The teams troop out to the pitch. Noh Alam Shah looks up for some moral support. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The Singapore team, consisting of a unique blend of people, including Serbians, English, Chinese and Africans, sings the national anthem with pride. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
A Singapore fan sings the anthem proudly. (Photo 4 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The large turnout of Lions supporters meant that the stadium was almost packed to the brim. (Photo 5 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Noh Alam Shah lets loose a sliding shot between two Vietnamese players. (Photo 6 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
A scuffle between the two teams ensued after a tackle by a Vietnam player. (Photo 7 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Noh Alam Shah watches as a shot is deflected out. (Photo 8 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Mustafic Fahrudin (Singapore, #15) laments a wasted opportunity. (Photo 9 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Noh Alam Shah tries to prevent his opponent from passing through. (Photo 10 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Shahril Ishak (Singapore, #17) goes on the offense while Doan Viet Cuong (Vietnam, #2) trails behind. (Photo 11 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Baihakki Khaizan (Singapore, #3) put his height to advantage as he out-jumps his opponent for the ball. He however failed to make his header count. (Photo 12 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Le Phuoc Tu (Vietnam, #4) tries to stop Agu Casmir (Singapore, #11) from attacking the goal. (Photo 13 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
The Singapore players sit dejected on the field after the final whistle. (Photo 14 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic commented at the post match conference that Singapore didn’t deserve to lose. Based on the team’s injury situation, he had no complaints about the team's effort. (Photo 15 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
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By the way, RS, you should see some of the youth talent on display at the A Division level.
Quite impressive. Worth a ticket price to watch. But these players disappear after JC because when they go to the national age group set up, they realised it’s not an environment that is nurturing like the JC set up and they turn their attention to something else.
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[…] Related stories: Lack of depth in the Singapore squad meant the downfall of the team in the ASEAN Football Championship Vietnam expose Singapore’s lack of speed in the centre of defence Vietnam break Singapore hearts at the National Stadium with 1-0 win in the second leg semi-final of … […]
Oh well, we’ve seen all sorts of unusual things in Singapore – China-born Singaporean table tennis players, Thai and China-born Singaporean badminton players.
I guess if the rules allow it, then, hey, might as well exploit the rules for our own benefit.
Of course, whether or not everyone will LIKE it, is another matter. In any case, this is sport, not politics.
Anyway, with regards to the long ball, it’s a tactic dictated by the players available.
No ball player like Wilkinson also means less incentive to keep the ball going on the ground for short passes beacuse the Vietnamese will kill you with speed and harassment.
The long ball worked, gaining us corners. But we didn’t do anything with those corners.
Haha Les, that is quite sad but it will be strange to see 8 new Singaporeans running around on the field for the National Football team. Playing football Wimbledon style is also not very pleasing to the eye. Hopeful long balls or more clearances remind me of John Fashanu waiting for that killer long ball
There are talented Singaporean born players but they are not available.
They are now either studying or have become photographers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, technicians…you name it.
They are doing everything except play football at the full national level.
The local ones playing football at the national level are not the best.
It was quite worrying to note that if we had duric and the China Born Player available, we would have 8 foreign talent players out of 11 players on the pitch. My questiion is is there not any talented Singapore Born players available……..
Some Singapore fans attacked Vietnam fans outside National stadium after the match.
Vietnam champion !
We never gave up, the lions will roar again.