Singapore Falls to Chinese Taipei 3-2 in Final Friendly Ahead of Mitsubishi Electric Cup

SINGAPORE: As the Singapore national football team readies itself for the upcoming Mitsubishi Electric Cup, their hopes took a hit after a narrow 3-2 loss to Chinese Taipei in a friendly match at the National Stadium on November 18.

Coach Tsutomu Ogura faces mounting pressure to turn the team's fortunes around, especially following their last warm-up match before the tournament unfolds on December 11 against Cambodia. The Lions had previously won 3-2 against Myanmar just days before this match, but this latest game highlighted significant issues that need addressing.

In front of a modest crowd of 6,746, Singapore struggled to find their rhythm. It was Chinese Taipei that struck first, with Christopher Tiao scoring in the 22nd minute, much to the dismay of the home supporters. Miguel Sandberg then extended their lead after capitalizing on a defensive error, demonstrating a worrying lack of cohesion in the Singapore defense.

The Lions did manage to pull one back late in the game through Irfan Najeeb’s goal in the 85th minute, igniting hopes of a comeback. However, any momentum was quickly dashed when Ange Kouame scored a header to make it 3-1, capitalizing on Singapore's high defensive line. Although substitute Shawal Anuar managed to score another for Singapore, his late goal wasn't enough to salvage a draw.

This defeat marks a troubling trend for the Lions, who are now preparing for a tough road ahead in the Mitsubishi Electric Cup under the leadership of Ogura, a seasoned coach who formerly served as an assistant coach for Japan's national team. Since his appointment in February, the Lions have faced a challenging series of results, including a draw and three losses in World Cup Asian qualifiers.

In preparation for the tournament, Ogura has been proactive, organizing friendly matches and training camps. Singapore's performance in their recent training matches, particularly a 4-0 loss to FC Tokyo and a crushing 7-1 defeat by Yokohama F Marinos, raises questions about the team's readiness as they face tougher competition in the AFF Championships. They have been drawn into Group A alongside Cambodia, East Timor, Malaysia, and Thailand, with the ambition of securing a spot in the semi-finals.

With a long way to go and several difficult tasks ahead, the Lions will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities quickly if they have any hope of making a significant impact in the upcoming tournament. Fans are eager to see whether Ogura can make the necessary adjustments to prepare the team for success on the international stage. Will the Lions roar back, or will they be left trailing behind once again? Only time will tell!