Singapore Faces a “Power House” in Vietnam, Gets a Hefty 4-0 Lesson
What started as a friendly with experimental squads became a blatant reality check for the Lions. Vietnam, led by Park Hang‑seo, shut down the hosts in Ho Chi Minh City with a 4‑0 rout that left Singapore wondering if they were ready for the upcoming AFC Championship.
The “New‑kid” Line‑up
- Ryaan Sanizal — second cap, skinned a makeshift center‑back trio with Hariss Harun & M. Anumanthan. Hot‑shot Hafiz Nor lands on the left wing‑back.
- Joshua Pereira — first cap, central midfield string with Adam Swandi (14 caps) and Shah Shahiran (five caps). Youngster Taufik Suparno & Ilhan Fandi, both just three caps, start in attack.
- All players wore black armbands, honoring former FAS president Lim Kia Tong who passed away on Sept 14.
First Half: A Tense 30‑Minute Duel
The Lions held their own in the opening half. In a match where both teams were swapping possession like a pair of nervous sailors, Hariss had a nice shot that went straight at goalkeeper Dang Van Lam. Ilhan nearly got a corner from a well‑timed free kick, but it still looked like a promising start.
Vietnam’s “Giant Leap”
Then Vietnam struck. Nham Manh Dung missed a header moment after a slip at the 36th minute, and Nguyen Van Quyet answered with a quick strike from outside the box. The Lions’ lack of tight marking let the opponents fire away again with a well‑placed cross from Ho Tan Tai that set the scene for a debut goal from substitute Nguyen Thanh Nhan.
More Goals in the Second Half
Tan Tai headed in another substitute (Phan Van Duc) for a 71st‑minute goal. The Lions were not just limited to poor defending; offense was also a rookie’s field, culminating in yet another clang from Khuat Van Khang 13 minutes later, sealing the 4‑0 scoreline.
Coaching Reflection: “We Showed a Glimpse of Brilliance”
Coach Nishigaya expressed disappointment at the loss but pride in the young players’ performances. “Joshua played at international level but still needs to improve fitness.” He added that the team showed moments of quality and demanded consistency—“minimise one‑v‑one mistakes while defending” to survive future high‑level matches.
Squad Challenges
The Lions had a rough time lining up the squad due to illnesses and injuries. The article suggested a more balanced approach—using familiar midfield leaders like Irfan and Ikhsan alongside the new players—to avoid feeling “suicidal” against a top‑tier side.
Looking Ahead: India at the Same Stadium
Three days later, Singapore will face India in the same arena. Nishigaya says the Lions will rely on the older Fandi brothers and younger Shahdan Sulaiman—whom they couldn’t field earlier—Bute the Fandi duo is still healing from minor injuries.
He’s ready: “We will do what we can with what we have.” The next match will be a chance to regroup and prove that the Lions have more than just a few nerves.
