Thailand won 3-2, coach Hudson defended Jude Soonsup-Bell.
Thailand defeated Singapore 3-2 during the FIFA Days. In the 90+6th minute, Jude Soonsup-Bell earned a penalty but shot straight into the middle of the goal and was saved by Mohamad Izwan bin Mahbud; Coach Hudson still spoke up in his defense.
In the 90+6th minute in Singapore, Jude Soonsup-Bell recovered the ball from a defensive error by the home team and earned a penalty for Thailand. The striker, formerly of Chelsea and Tottenham, took responsibility, but his shot towards the center of the goal was saved by goalkeeper Mohamad Izwan bin Mahbud with his foot. Despite missing the chance to seal a 4-2 victory, Thailand still finished the friendly match with a 3-2 win thanks to goals from Sarach Yooyen, Theerathon Bunmathan, and Seksan Ratree.
Penalty 90+6 and Jude Soonsup-Bell's debut moment.
In the most notable moment of the match, Jude Soonsup-Bell surged ahead after winning the ball, was fouled inside the penalty area, and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Deciding to take the penalty himself, he chose to shoot straight down the middle but lacked decisiveness, allowing Izwan to block it with his foot. Immediately afterwards, Jude looked disappointed, clutching his head in frustration and unable to catch the rebound. The final score remained 3-2 in favor of the "War Elephants".
What did Coach Hudson say about the penalty taker?
"We didn't plan who would take the penalty, but rather let Jude take it. This is good because he's a new player who needs to adapt, and he's had experience taking penalties before. If Jude Soonsup-Bell takes on this role, he'll create positive moments for the players and fans, as well as build his own confidence."
Coach Hudson's comments reveal a larger goal behind the decision: to help a new signing integrate and instill confidence through psychologically significant moments like the late-game penalty.
Jude Soonsup-Bell's debut and profile.
Jude Soonsup-Bell, 21, was born in England to an English father and a Thai mother. He played for England's youth teams from U15 to U19 between 2019 and 2021. At club level, Jude played for Chelsea's academy in the 2021/22 season and made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup against Brentford, before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in 2023. He currently plays for Grimsby Town in League Two (the fourth tier of English football).
The Football Association of Thailand announced that FIFA has sent a certificate confirming Jude Soonsup-Bell's eligibility to play for the Thai national team in both AFC and FIFA matches. His debut against Singapore was therefore a milestone, despite the disappointment of missing a penalty.
Key events and context of the friendly match
The match took place on the evening of November 13th during FIFA Days. Thailand took the lead thanks to goals from Sarach Yooyen, Theerathon Bunmathan, and Seksan Ratree to beat Singapore 3-2. The score could have been extended to 4-2 if the penalty in the 90+6th minute had been successfully converted.
Selective statistics
- Score: Thailand 3-2 Singapore
- Penalty time: 90+6th minute
- Penalty taker and winner: Jude Soonsup-Bell
- Goalkeeper's save: Mohamad Izwan bin Mahbud
- Goalscorers for the Thailand national team: Sarach Yooyen, Theerathon Bunmathan, Seksan Ratree