Goalkeeper Izwan wins over Japanese fan
Singapore's goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud (C) reacts with his team captain Hariss Harun (L) after catching the ball as Japan's Yoshinori Muto runs during their 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, north of Tokyo June 16, 2015.
One Japanese football fan posted a video on YouTube to laud Singapore goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud for his sterling performance against the Blue Samurai.
In the title of the video, he credited the 24-year-old with making "god-like" saves to help his team earn a shock 0-0 draw in front of 57,533 spectators at the Saitama Stadium on Tuesday.
In all, the LionsXII custodian saved 18 shots on goal, the pick of which was a stunning block from AC Milan playmaker Keisuke Honda's bullet header in the 68th minute.
Not surprisingly, he was also singled out by Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic for his all-action display. He told Football Channel Asia: "I've never seen a goalkeeper stop that many shots before."
This article was first published on June 18, 2015.
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