In the game, striker T Saravanan stole the spotlight when he scored four goals and assisted in scoring another to become the top scorer of the Harimau Muda squad at the biennial sports event.

The 20-year-old Kuala Lumpur (KL) City FC player put E Elavarasan’s squad in the lead as early as the 14th minute after his curling shot from inside the penalty box beat Singapore goalkeeper Aizil Mohamed Yazid.

He then played a role in the national team’s second goal after his cross was headed by striker Haqimi Azim Rosli in injury time in the first half.

Saravanan made it 3-0 three minutes after the break with a powerful shot from close range.

He then completed his hattrick in the 54th minute after taking advantage of  confusion in the Singapore penalty box before scoring his fourth goal.

Nearing full time, team captain Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi and substitute Aiman Afif Afizul each scored in the 88th minute and second half stoppage time to complete the win over Singapore.

Elavarasan’s men finished third in Group B with a total of six points from four games behind Thailand and Vietnam and failed to advance to the semi-finals.

For the record, the last time Malaysia won a medal at the SEA Games was in the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur when we won silver while we last won gold in Indonesia in 2011.