SINGAPORE - If the main aim of the Singapore's international friendly against Solomon Islands was to ensure their new coach Tatsuma Yoshida started his tenure with a win, the Lions got the job done. Barely, with a 4-3 win at the National Stadium on Saturday (June 8).
But if the larger objective is to get the Lions to play possession-based attacking football, then Yoshida has a lot of work to do after celebrating his 45th birthday on Sunday, as he rated the performance "six or seven out of 10".
To be fair, the Japanese was appointed only on May 30 and had just four training sessions with his team.
He said: "It is a good result and a positive start. Our boys played a little nervously, made some mistakes, and we have to improve on some things, but they showed good attitude.
"We couldn't control the play and couldn't stop the opponents' attack in midfield, and we panicked a little. We didn't interchange well and we need to learn to hold our defence first.
"I'm used to seeing players who train well but become nervous in games. These are things we cannot improve on in one or two days but I trust my players and we need to keep going."
Singapore, who started off with a 4-1-4-1 formation, got off to a flyer in front of around 1,500 fans when Faris Ramli headed home Shahdan Sulaiman's cross, following a well-worked move in the fourth minute.
After the bright start, Singapore strangely sat back as both sides lacked ideas and urgency.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Gabriel Quak had a one-on-one goalscoring opportunity in the 33rd minute but took one touch too many before shooting straight at Philip Mango.
But Solomon Islands looked the likelier team to score towards the end of the half and Izwan Mahbud had to be alert to thwart Joses Nawo twice in two minutes.
The Lions did not take heed of the warning signs and were made to pay just three minutes after the restart when Feni Gagame cut in from the right and fired across Izwan into the bottom corner.
It got worse for Singapore when Adam Swandi's poor first touch allowed Andrew Abba to give the visitors the lead with a left-footer in off the post.
Singapore equalised in the 67th minute when Shahdan's free-kick eluded everyone and beat Mango. But the Lions continued to display poor technique in the second half as Zulfahmi Arifin's casual pass in the 75th minute resulted in a fast break for the visitors, and Benjamin Totori beat Safuwan Baharudin and Izwan at the near post to restore the Solomon Islands' lead.
The Lions replied almost instantly, when substitute Khairul Amri threaded Gabriel Quak through to make it 3-3.
Izwan then had to be brave to deny Nawo after Hariss Harun's sloppy backpass in the 78th minute, which resulted in a head injury for the Singapore goalkeeper who was then replaced by Hassan Sunny.
Hariss then made amends in the 85th minute when he slotted in from close range after Mango dropped Quak's corner to ensure the hosts got the win that should help the Lions improve their world ranking of 160 and secure a better seeding for next month's World Cup qualifiers draw.
Solomon Islands coach Wim Rijsbergen said: "We gave a couple of goals away and allowed Singapore back into the game. We have guys who come from very low standards and we have to learn in international football, every mistake can lead to a goal."
Hariss, who grabbed his 10th international goal, was pleased with how his team fought their way back to win, but urged for a better showing against Myanmar on Tuesday.
He said: "It is important we got the win. We did it the hard way, which is not ideal.
"We have to work on controlling the game better. I think it was a case of being comfortable and overconfident after the early goal and we were punished.
"The boys enjoy playing such attacking football but we need to remember our defensive responsibilities too, so tonight was a good lesson we have to learn from."
By Eric Knecht. DOHA (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that a majority of national soccer federations were in favor of expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.
Football: Infantino says he has wide support for 48-team
Gianluigi Buffon will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer World Cup winner Buffon to leave PSG. adding to a bulging trophy cabinet that contains just about every honour in football.
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain
Football: Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to
Ban completely unfair: Pochettino, Football News & Top
The £10million summer signing from Manchester City capitalised on woeful defending to head home Sebastian Larsson's corner on the half-hour, in the process cancelling out Juan Mata's opener.
Giggs hits back after Zlatan criticism of Man Utd 'Class of 92' AFP Ryan Giggs and Wales begin Euro 2020 qualifying at home to Slovakia later this month.
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight
London (AFP) - Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba dedicated his goal and a 2-1 victory over Southampton to Emiliano Sala after an emotional match for the Welsh club. Saturday's fixtures were the first round of Premier League games since the player's death was confirmed earlier this week.
'Victory and goal for Sala', says Cardiff captain Bamba
Football Federation Australia hailed the move as "an outcome that delivers on the gender equity principle of 'same base pay for same base work'." "This means that players in the Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League will receive the same minimum remuneration hourly rate," said FFA Head of Leagues Greg O'Rourke.
Australian female players to earn same base pay as men
British crash investigators on Tuesday launched an underwater operation to recover a body from the wreckage of the plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala in the Channel. "We are attempting to recover the body. If we are successful, we will consider the feasibility of recovering the
Football: British rescuers launch bid to recover body from
More than 750 million television viewers watched the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™, as the FIFA's flagship women's competition delivered all-time record viewing figures.
Women's World Cup 2019 set to break TV records as England's
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has appeared to pave the way for him to take the Manchester United job full-time after saying his contract at Molde has expired. The interim Old Trafford boss has confirmed he is no longer contracted to the Norwegian side.
Football: Manchester United should give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Football: Ronaldo fit for Juventus clash with Ajax in
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 17, 2018, with the headline 'Europe progress spurs hope for league title: Pochettino'. Print Edition
Exclusive: Spurs hope Pochettino will take club 'to next level'
Hougang United Football Club, one of nine clubs in the professional football league, had filed a police report against an employee after losing S$278,200 from its coffers. A female administrative staff member, Tean Tai Tee, had allegedly misappropriated the sales revenue from the clubhouse between Nov 29 and Dec 11 last year.
Top stories from The Straits Times on Monday, Feb 25
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar