Singapore’s trouncing by Malaysia at Asean Cup a ‘painful’ wake-up call, say observers
The Singapore national football team suffered a 6-0 defeat against Malaysia in the Asean Cup, prompting calls for a serious review of the team's performance. Observers described the loss as a painful wake-up call ahead of the upcoming Asian Cup.
Why it matters
The defeat has triggered a national conversation about the state of Singaporean football and the need for accountability in sports management.
JAKARTA: A 6-0 thrashing by Malaysia has delivered a sobering reality check for the Lions, with just three months to go to the Asian Cup.
Observers, who described the heavy defeat at the FIFA Asean Cup in Bandung on Oct 1 as “unacceptable”, “painful” and “humbling”, also believe that tough questions must be asked of the Singapore national football team.
The manner of the loss – their worst defeat by archrivals Malaysia since losing by the same scoreline in 1978 – was something that concerned former Lions Noh Alam Shah and S. Subramani, and former Singapore Premier League coach Khidhir Khamis.
Alam Shah, a two-time Asean Championship winner, said: “It’s a very painful result, especially against Malaysia. But more concerning than the scoreline is how we lost control after going 2-0 down. At this level, we have to be able to stay competitive and manage difficult moments.
Also covering this story
4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Lions' Malaysia mauling a ‘reality check’ ahead of Asian Cup, fans need to be realistic, say observers
Malaysia thrash Singapore 6-0 but miss out on Asean Cup final
Singapore’s 6-0 loss to Malaysia a 'wake-up call'
Malaysia striker Bergson fumes after 'favored' Indonesia snatch FIFA ASEAN Cup final spot
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