SINGAPORE: There was plenty of possession but only the solitary point as the Lions opened their 2027 Asian Cup qualification campaign with a 0-0 draw against Hong Kong on Tuesday (Mar 25).
At the National Stadium, both teams played out a hard-fought draw despite Singapore putting the ball in the back of the net twice.
The Lions have never qualified for the Asian Cup on merit, with Singapore’s only appearance coming as hosts in 1984.
Singapore are grouped with Hong Kong, India and Bangladesh in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers. Each of the six group leaders will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.
India are the highest ranked team in the group, and sit 126th in the FIFA world rankings. They are followed by Hong Kong (155), Singapore (160) and Bangladesh (185).
Both teams entered Tuesday’s match with contrasting fortunes.
The Lions lost 1-0 to Nepal in a home friendly last Friday, while Hong Kong were on a seven-match winning run.
“We expected a reaction from Singapore,” said Hong Kong head coach Ashley Westwood after the game.
“There (were) always, always going to be changes, there was going to be a lift in desire, a lift in aggression and it was a proper football match.”
They last faced the Lions in a friendly two years ago, with the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw.
Singapore started the game on the front foot and Lionel Tan had the ball in the back of the net from a corner with less than two minutes gone, but the goal was disallowed.
The Lions continued to keep possession well but struggled to make much headway in the final third. The visitors also seemed strangely subdued, despite the urging of a vocal pocket of away fans.
“Our performance compared to the last game was much better, but we also (dropped) two points, that is also true,” said Singapore coach Tsutomu Ogura.
“Outside the penalty box, we showed our football. But we must improve more inside the penalty box, we must improve more with scoring goals.”
Winger Glenn Kweh looked lively down the right as he looked to beat his man and put in crosses.
Singapore would fashion a glorious chance in the 25th minute as Harhys Stewart whipped a cross in from the left, but the combination of a miscue and a good stop from Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai denied Ogura’s men.
“We were poor (in the) first half, there’s no denying that,” admitted Westwood, who said his side had been “outplayed” in the middle of the pitch in the first 45.
“We were a little bit sluggish … our really good key players didn’t do what they normally do.
“And in the end, after galvanising ourselves and dusting ourselves off at half-time, and coming together, and having a few home truths, we dug in well.”
The visitors looked more up for it after the break as Matt Orr curled an effort wide in the 49th minute – a deflection helping it on. Westwood’s men then had a header flicked wide from the resultant corner.
Ten minutes later, it was stalwart Safuwan Baharudin who came to Singapore’s rescue with a big block, before a Hong Kong header rebounded off the bar.
Substitute Kyoga Nakamura came even closer a minute later as he skipped inside a defender but dragged a shot wide from a counterattack fashioned by the quicksilver Kweh.
To the delight of most in the 8,064-strong crowd, Shawal Anuar appeared to have put the home side ahead in the 77th minute, only for the flag to be raised for what looked a marginal offside at best.
Singapore will next face Bangladesh away in June.
