If Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ is etched forever in FIFA World Cup history, ASEAN football can boast of its own iconic moment: R. Sasikumar’s ‘Shoulder of God’.
In the 1998 ASEAN Championship final against Vietnam, Sasikumar scored the only goal of the match in the 71st minute. A cross from Kadir Yahaya saw Sasikumar challenge goalkeeper Trần Tiến Anh, and the ball ricocheted off his shoulder into the net, giving Singapore their first-ever ASEAN title.
Despite battling a knee injury, Sasikumar was determined to play, and his strong bond with coach Barry Whitbread’s squad played a key role in their success. Singapore topped their group and defeated Indonesia in the semifinals before facing hosts Vietnam in a packed Hàng Đẫy Stadium for the final.
As Sasikumar reflected, “We knew when we walked onto the pitch that night that it was a great opportunity to go down in history, to be the first Singapore team to win.”
The match was goalless until Sasikumar’s goal, which he initially thought would be called a foul. But when the referee pointed to the center circle, the Singapore team realized they had made history. They held on to the lead, with goalkeeper Rezal Hassan earning Man of the Match honors.
While Sasikumar’s goal has become known as the ‘Shoulder of God’, he prefers the term ‘Blade of God’, even owning the domain name. The 1998 victory remains a defining moment in Singapore’s football history.
The Official Draw for the Hyundai Cup™2026 will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan 15.
