Papua New Guinea prepares for Malaysia clash after lucky draw against Singapore

Last Friday, on the 16th of June, Singapore faced Papua New Guinea in a highly anticipated friendly match. The Papua New Guinea national team, the Kapuls, opted for a different lineup, granting Ferdahlas Namuesh and Bruce Tiampo a starting position. Additionally, they deployed Kolu Kepo as a central defender alongside Daniel Joe. On the other hand, Singapore relied on their trademark pace to create problems for their opponents, putting goalkeeper Ronald Warisan under pressure from the beginning.

Despite the early challenges faced by the PNG Kapuls, it was Singapore who took the lead in the 22nd minute through a goal by Adam Swandi, capitalizing on a well-executed set piece. The home side’s advantage, however, was short-lived. As the first half was drawing to a close, Ati Kepo, the star player from Hekari United, unleashed a magnificent strike from long range at the 41st minute, equalizing the scoreline. The momentum continued in favor of Singapore, as Hariss Harun found a way past the defense and goalkeeper Warisan just a minute later, putting Singapore back in the lead.

As the game entered stoppage time before the half-time whistle, an unexpected turn of events occurred. Raymond Gunemba seized an opportunity during a chaotic play and managed to block a defender’s clearance, directing the ball into the goal. This stroke of luck allowed Papua New Guinea to level the game once again, leaving both teams on equal footing heading into the second half.

The second half witnessed several scoring opportunities for Singapore, but their lack of clinical finishing, coupled with the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Ronald Warisan, thwarted their attempts to secure a decisive lead. Despite their relentless efforts, Singapore was unable to capitalize on these chances, and the game ultimately concluded with a 2-2 draw.

Following this result, Papua New Guinea now regroups and prepares to face Malaysia, a formidable opponent, in an upcoming international friendly. The match is viewed as a significant challenge for the PNG Kapuls, and they will need to regather their strength and refine their strategies to put up a good performance against their stronger adversaries.