Limping through the mixed zone with the help of a crutch, Ilhan Fandi could not hide his broad smile on Tuesday night at Kai Tak Stadium.
The 23-year-old forward played less than 30 minutes but made a decisive impact. Coming off the bench in the 57th minute, Ilhan first delivered a brilliant assist to Shawal Anuar for Singapore’s equaliser. Just four minutes later, he scored with a sharp finish into the back of the Hong Kong net. Despite later leaving the pitch due to injury, his contributions helped Singapore secure a 2-1 victory.
Singapore has now qualified for the Asian Cup on merit for the first time in history. Their only other appearance was in 1984, when they participated automatically as hosts.
Ilhan told reporters, “I am just so happy that Singapore can qualify for the Asian Cup. Everyone involved gave their all. I am just a player, I just try and do my job. To everyone back home, this one is for you. It has been a long journey. It is something the whole country can be proud of, and I am very proud to be Singaporean.”
Singapore fell behind early to a Matt Orr goal, putting Hong Kong in control of the game. Ilhan recalled the halftime talk from interim head coach Gavin Lee: “We went 1-0 down and he said stick to the game plan … do not lose focus. He believed in us, and we also believed in him.”
Lee added at a post-match press conference, “We had a plan. Football is not perfect, like life. If things go wrong, it is our job to react and deal with it. As long as we stay in the game, we knew we had players to finish it.”
Ilhan said, “I have always said, whether I play 15 minutes, 20 minutes, or start the game, I just try to give it my all. Coach Gavin knows how to use me, and I believe in my abilities and the team believes in me as well.” On his injury, he added, “I heard a crack in my foot. For me it is no problem. Anything for the country.”
Singapore’s journey to the Asian Cup has seen ups and downs: a home draw with Hong Kong, a narrow 2-1 win over Bangladesh, and a dominating home performance against India that ended in a late equaliser. The team also won 2-1 in India before Tuesday’s decisive victory.
Coach Lee said, “This milestone is for everyone. It is not just for me or the national team. It is for Singapore.”
