Sports

S’pore loses 4-1 to China in World Cup Qualifiers after first-leg draw

Singapore loses to China in World Cup Qualifiers after hopeful draw

On Tuesday (26 March), the Singapore Lions lost 4-1 to China’s national football team during the second leg of the World Cup Qualifiers in Tianjin.

The loss comes just five days after the team managed to overcome a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 to China at the National Stadium.

A second-half penalty managed to turn the tide for the hosts in Tianjin.

Singapore loses 4-1 to China in 2nd leg of World Cup Qualifiers

At halftime, the score was 1-1 with goals from China’s Wu Lei and Faris Ramli in the 21st and 22nd minute respectively.

Source: Football Association of Singapore on Facebook

After the game resumed, referee Omar Mohamed Al-Ali ruled at the 65th minute that Singaporean midfielder Jacob Mahler had fouled Gao Zhunyi during a free kick, The Straits Times (ST) reported.

Fei Nanduo then scored the penalty, taking the lead for the hosts.

In the 79th minute, China was down to 10 men after Li Yuanyi received a red card for a challenge on Joel Chew.

But with an injured Chew unable to continue and the team having used up all five substitutions, the Lions were down one man too.

Team captain Wu Lei later went on to make it 3-1 for the hosts in the 85th minute. China sealed its triumph just five minutes after when Wei Shihao brought the scoreline to 4-1.

 

Lions remain bottom of World Cup qualifying group

Due to the result, the Lions remain bottom of their group for the World Cup qualifying stage with a single point.

Source: ESPN

In a post-match press conference, coach Tsutomu Ogura expressed his frustrations about how the match went, especially after the first half. According to ST, he said:

Today, when it was 11 against 11, it was not very good but not so bad. It was quite a good game.

“Then, we [had to] play with 10 men even when we did not need to [because] we already changed five players,” he continued.

“Our player had a serious injury and we had to play with 10. When it was 10 versus 10, the game changed.”

“We could not [continue] our football when the game was 10 against 10. This is my summary,” he concluded.

Chew took to X to share about his injury the same night after the match. He explained that it was a suspected fracture and he was on the way to the hospital.

Source: @joelchew__ on X

The Lions will next play South Korea at home and away to Thailand in June. They must win both for a chance to progress to the next round of the qualifiers.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from Football Association of Singapore on Facebook and Facebook.

Sudeshna Dhar

Sudeshna is a lover of all romcoms, especially Gone Girl (2014).

Recent Posts

URL on ‘Wicked’ dolls’ packaging links to porn site, Mattel apologises for misprint

The misprinted boxes are now coveted items on eBay.

13 Nov 2024, 6:30 pm

‘It suits you’: Daughter in Thailand asks for car, dad gets her tuk tuk instead

And she named her new purple ride after a popular Thai rum.

13 Nov 2024, 6:01 pm

2 boys rush out of MRT to return laptop left by alighting passenger, praised for actions

They managed to run back onto the train in time.

13 Nov 2024, 5:29 pm

Croatian scientist treats own breast cancer with viruses she developed in lab, has been cancer-free for 4 years

During the treatment, her tumour substantially shrank and was later removed easily.

13 Nov 2024, 5:16 pm

Boy with autism in M’sia refuses to get his haircut, barber patiently plays with him

The barber played with the autistic boy until he was ready for haircut.

13 Nov 2024, 5:15 pm

Trump appoints Elon Musk as head of new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ aka DOGE

News outlets express concern about his appointees' lack of experience.

13 Nov 2024, 3:41 pm