Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tianjin: Singapore were dealt a massive confidence blow ahead of the resumption of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers next month as the ASEAN champions went down to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of fellow Australia 2015 hopefuls China in an international friendly on Friday.
Yu Dabo opened the floodgates in the 7th minute and had a goal ruled out for offside before Shafiq Ghani levelled for the Lions in the 17th minute against the run of play.
But a resurgent China were not to be denied there second win in four undefeated matches under caretaker coach Fu Bo and were 4-1 up by the interval after Yu curled home his second (31st), Zhang Xizhe converted a contentious penalty (42nd) and Sun Ke capped a free-flowing move by tapping in number four on the stroke of half-time.
Singapore showed a bit more resolve in the second half but China still dominated and were rewarded for their effort in the 70th minute when substitute Zheng Long made it 5-1 before midfielder Zheng, who plays his club football for AFC Champions League 2013 quarter-finalists Guangzhou Evergrande, completed the rout four minutes from time.
Singapore are currently bottom of Group A of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers having lost their first two matches and will be looking to get their campaign back on track when they host Syria on October 15 while China will be looking to keep pace with Group C leaders Saudi Arabia when they face Indonesia in Jakarta on the same day.
Photo: AFP