Lions forward Glenn Kweh has been a familiar face on both flanks for the national team since his 2022 debut but he couldn’t be better poised to take on Hong Kong in a winner-take-all AFC Asian Cup qualifier come Tuesday (Nov 18), after he netted his first two goals in national colours on his 26th cap in a 3-2 friendly loss against 96th-ranked Thailand at the Thammasat Stadium on Thursday (Nov 13).
The breakthrough brace for the 25-year-old winger comes a week after yet another personal milestone, when he scored his first continental goal – a cool side-footed finish in BG Tampines Rovers’ 1-1 away draw to three-time Asian club champions Pohang Steelers on Nov 6.
Recalling his 56th-minute opener against the Korean giants, Kweh said that the goal “gave me a confidence boost”.
“It’s amazing to build on that momentum with my first two goals for Singapore. It comes at a great time with the Hong Kong game coming up. Hopefully, I’ll be able to continue this form and show it in that important game,” he added.
He has also been in a rich vein of form in the domestic league, with three goals in four games to lead Tampines’ scoring charts, so it may come as a surprise that the winger had yet to score for the Lions until Thursday.
Whatever the case, Kweh is adamant that it has never been down to a “lack of confidence” in front of goal.
But with some impressive firsts out of the way in recent weeks, Kweh is “fully locked in” for the Hong Kong clash.
Also coming into goalscoring form is frontman Ikhsan Fandi, who came on as a substitute in the 61st minute against the Thais.
Having struck six times in three games for Ratchaburi FC since late October — half of them against Hong Kong’s Eastern FC in 5-1 and 7-0 routs — Ikhsan is “feeling sharp, confident and fully enjoying football now” after a barren four-month run with the Dragons since his June loan move.
The striker is also pleased to see his teammates, such as fellow attacker Kweh, getting back among the goals.
“Seeing other players like Jordan (Emaviwe) and Glenn score in the Asian Champions League Two also gives me the belief that we are capable of creating history in Singapore football.”
The prospect of historic Asian Cup qualification, and the magnitude of the task at a sold-out Kai Tak Stadium, is not lost on Ikhsan, who views it as “a chance to write a new chapter in our football history”.
“We know what must be done, and we have to keep calm and focused. The matches against India showed the growth in our mentality and resolve. As a squad, our feeling is that we are capable of achieving a result, and it’s a matter of us delivering it on matchday.”
Meanwhile, Hong Kong are coming off the back of a disappointing 1-1 friendly draw against 179th-ranked Cambodia. Despite starting well through a Wong Wai opener, they conceded just two minutes later when returning 41-year-old goalkeeper Wang Zhen Peng misjudged a deep corner and allowed defender Krya Saret to level the score.
Both Singapore and Hong Kong enter the contest tied on eight points, with the latter edging the visitors on goal difference. But with head-to-head results taking precedence over goal difference for teams level on points, the winner of this encounter will punch their ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals. A draw would mean qualification will be decided on the final matchday in March, when Singapore take on Bangladesh at home, while India hosts Hong Kong.
Fans can join in watch parties at Bishan Community Club and Our Tampines Hub’s Festive Plaza or watch the match on meWATCH with kickoff set for 8pm.
