[Photo: Milad Sarlak Chiva (left) tries to mask his joy after Iran's second goal while Singapore scorer Hanafi Akbar cannot help but bury his head in disbelief. The hosts had matched Iran for most of the match until the winner six minutes from time.]

By Wang Meng Meng

When Vietnamese referee Dang Thanh Ha whistled for full-time at Jalan Besar Stadium yesterday, he not only blew an end to 80 minutes of football but also broke the hearts of Singapore's Asian Youth Games footballers.

They had lost 1-2 to Iran in their opening Group A game, a result that dented their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals via a top-two finish.

Slumped to the ground, frustrated that their hard work and gutsy play had not been rewarded with at least a draw, David Sivalingam's boys meekly applauded the 2,500 fans as they trooped into the tunnel.

It was only from behind the closed doors of the dressing room that the tear ducts opened.

'More than half of the squad cried,'' revealed forward Hanafi Akbar.

At the heart of the matter was the manner in which winger Bahman Jahantigh scored the winning goal six minutes from time.

As Jonathan Tan lay injured, the Iranians continued play despite calls from the Singapore team to kick the ball out to allow treatment for the left-midfielder.

The visitors, however, ignored the protests. They moved the ball from the right to the left flank, before setting up Bahman, who slotted past Singapore goalkeeper Fashah Iskandar.

'We were so disappointed,'' said Hanafi, 14.

'The team gave such a good fight and it's difficult to accept the loss. We are all angry... and at a loss of words.''

Striker Syazwan Zin added: 'We are a little mad that the Iranians did not kick the ball out when Jonathan was injured.

'Whenever one of their guys went down, we would sportingly kick the ball out. We tried complaining to the referee but he said the only way play can stop is when Iran kick the ball out.''

Iran coach Yavari Mohammad deflected all questions on his team's alleged lack of sportsmanship - and instead spoke about how he had been impressed by the hosts, a sentiment shared by most in the stands.

After a nervous opening, Singapore gradually found the confidence to launch sorties into their opponents' half.

But a lapse in concentration in the 49th minute saw Iran striker Siavash Haghnazzari scrambling home from a melee after a corner.

However, Hanafi, who came on as a 51st-minute substitute for right-midfielder Brandon Wong, made his mark within six minutes.

Gliding past two markers in midfield, the Sports School student exchanged passes with Jonathan before launching a 25-metre rocket past Iran goalkeeper Meisam Labbaf.

'It's easily the best goal I've scored in my life so far,'' said the teenager, who knows Singapore now need to beat Thailand tomorrow to have a chance of advancing.

'But I'm just so upset with the way we were defeated.''

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