June 7, 2024
SINGAPORE – In the lead up to Singapore’s World Cup qualifier against South Korea, Lions coach Tsutomu Ogura said that his charges were “up for the challenge”.
On June 6, in front of 49,097 fans inside a sold-out National Stadium, the 23rd-ranked visitors showed that both teams were several classes apart as Singapore, at 155th spot, were taught a footballing lesson in a 7-0 thumping.
It was a deflating outcome for the fans, who packed the stands for what is the biggest turnout for a Lions match at the National Stadium.
The previous record was during Singapore’s 3-1 loss to Malaysia in the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup when 48,183 spectators were in attendance.
Perhaps Ogura and the fans’ confidence ahead of the tie stemmed from Singapore’s last home outing, when the Lions showed heart, grit and intelligence to fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with China on March 21.
This time, while there was effort, there was also plenty of haphazard defending and an overall performance that displayed the vast gap between two sides 132 places apart in the Fifa world rankings.
Ogura, who looked crestfallen in his post-match conference, said: “I apologise to the Singapore football fans.
“So many people came today to watch the game but we could not show our football.
“Of course, Korea was a different class. We need to move on to our next game and we should never give up and we must try to have much more improvement.”
The Japanese, appointed in February after the departure of his compatriot Takayuki Nishigaya, is winless in three matches. Besides the 2-2 draw, he saw his Lions side put up a gutsy performance in China only to lose 4-1 on March 26.
But their three displays under the new coach can be described as one that is brave. While past sides might have sat back in a low block and tried to frustrate the visitors, Singapore – who lined up with a back four – tried to take the game to the Koreans.
Some may describe this approach as naive but Ogura insisted this is the way to get better.
He wants his team to continue to challenge themselves and their opponents as a mean to improve: “The first half was not so bad but, once we lost goals (in the second half) continuously, our players got nervous and scared. We must improve on this.”
Goalkeeper Hassan Sunny, who is the veteran of the side at 40, said the Lions must stick to Ogura’s philosophy despite the home thrashing.
He said: “Compared to how we played probably five, six years ago and how we played today, today we didn’t sit back and defend the whole game.
“We tried to play even though it was quite dangerous… and that is the main goal that coach Ogura has tried to implement, to be brave and take the risks.
“Of course we were outclassed but I think it’s only positive that you see how we played this game.”
South Korea’s interim coach Kim Do-hoon, meanwhile, said: “It was a short preparation for us but our players showed their ability on the pitch. It was a big victory. Through our football, I think we gave joy and hope to our Korean people.”
The scoring started in the ninth minute when Paris Saint-Germain wizard Lee Kang-in weaved his way past Hariss Harun in the box before beating Hassan.
For the first time in the match, there was a flat atmosphere among the Singapore faithful.
The decibels rose back up just three minutes later when Hami Syahin rose in the box for a header that forced South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo into a save.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for the Lions and their fans.
In the 20th minute, Joo Min-kyu ghosted in between Safuwan Baharudin and Lionel Tan to meet Kim Jin-su’s cross with an emphatic header to double the score.
After the interval, the visitors put the Lions to the sword with five goals, three of which arrived in a space of four minutes.
In the 53rd minute, Man of the Match Son Heung-min showed why he is one of the English Premier League’s best when he dribbled into the box and placed a driven effort into the bottom-right corner.
Just a minute later, Lee got his second before captain Son added to his tally in the 56th minute.
Stoke City’s Bae Jun-ho and Hwang Hee-chan, of EPL side Wolverhampton Wanderers, came off the bench to round off the scoring in the 79th and 82nd minute respectively.
Bidding for an 11th straight appearance at the World Cup, South Korea are now through to the final round of qualification in Asia.
The Taegeuk Warriors are guaranteed top spot in Group C. With only China to face on June 11 in Seoul, they have amassed 13 points from five matches.
China, who drew 1-1 with Thailand at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, are second with eight points, three ahead of the Thais.
Singapore will finish last regardless of the outcome of their final match against Thailand on June 11 in Bangkok.