Lions' Excellent Showing Against China

A new chapter of the Singapore’s Men’s football team’s journey began against China in a FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying fixture at the National Stadium last night in front of 28,414 fans.

photo credit: FAS

Tsutomu Ogura, the Lions new head coach, had a tough opening match to contend with against opposition ranked 88th in the world but he will have been hugely encouraged by the display of his side as they put in an excellent performance to come away with their first point in this group after an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Singapore played with intensity, compactness, courage and organisation against a Chinese side who were recently in action at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. The Lions displayed good structure with and without the ball as they caused issues for their opponents with their first effort coming from a long range drive by Ikhsan Fandi in the 7th minute that was saved by Yan Junling.

It was China though who would open the scoring in the 10th minute after Wu Lei connected with Li Yuanyi’s cross from the right to glance a header past Hassan Sunny into the bottom corner to give the visitors the lead.

The hosts didn't let their heads drop and forced a couple of turnovers with their close shape and aggressive pressing which forced China into some mistakes in possession. Nazrul Nazari then had Singapore’s second effort on goal with another shot from distance in the 22nd minute but that was also comfortably saved by Yan.

Nazrul would be involved again in the 30th minute, as he conceded a penalty after he was adjudged to have handled the ball in an attempt to block an effort on goal. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Wu Lei would step up to take it but he was denied by an excellent save from Hassan Sunny that spurred the home side.

Shah Shahiran came close to an equaliser in the 41st minute with a shot that whistled just wide. Instead, it would be China who would get the next goal just before the break. Hassan could only palm a deflected shot from just outside the box back into the path of the onrushing Wu Lei who accepted the gift with glee to make it two nil with his second of the night.

Faris Ramli, introduced at the start of the second half, pulled a goal back for Singapore in the 53rd minute as he fired in an effort off the far post from just outside the box after a perfectly timed run that caught the Chinese defence off guard.

Kallang roared as the home side pushed on in search of an equaliser which came in the 81st minute through Jacob Mahler as he thumped a powerful finish into the roof of the net after China had failed to clear their lines following a flowing attacking move from Singapore.

The hosts looked to power their way to a win and were denied a late shout for a penalty after Safuwan looked to have been pulled down in the box. It wasn’t to be on this occasion but the Lions put in a performance befitting of their nickname and showed that this might just be the start of a beautiful story under Ogura.

photo credit: FAS