|
ANOTHER ONE IN THE NET: Lionel Lewis (in green) get a hand to a header from substitute Aziz Ibragimov but could not keep it out. That put Uzbekistan 6-2 ahead. -- SAMUEL HE
|
IT WAS a majestic display of football the likes of which Kallang had not witnessed in years.
Unfortunately, it was not the home team which delivered it.
The scoreline, too, was unusual, as Singapore drowned under a rain of goals from a rampant Uzbekistan in their third-round World Cup qualifying match last night.
Seven conceded, and three scored in reply. It was the Lions' biggest international defeat on home turf since their 0-4 Tiger Cup hiding by Malaysia in 2002.
To be fair, Singapore should not be faulted for their effort and courage against a side that were clearly a class apart.
They never gave up, pegging back the Uzbeks at 1-1 and 2-2.
In doing so, they became the first side in five World Cup qualifying matches to breach Uzbekistan's defence, not once, but three times.
It was a pity that Singapore's backline sprung even more leaks.
'We made too many individual errors today,' admitted Singapore left-back Daniel Bennett. 'Five of their goals could have been prevented.'
The first, coming in the 10th minute, was a result of the home side giving away a cheap throw-in.
Bennett was culpable in the second, as he failed to reach a ball that was eventually converted by Uzbek midfielder Victor Karpenko.
The third, blasted in by Server Djeparov, came about when defender Noh Rahman failed to clear the ball cleanly off the line.
The horror show continued. Centre-backs Baihakki Khaizan and Precious Emuejeraye, as well as Singapore goalkeeper Lionel Lewis, all took turns to present the Uzbeks with goals.
The Lions were also flummoxed by the Uzbekistan's game plan, which featured five attacking midfielders.
With all the pre-match hype focusing on star striker Maksim Shatskikh, Karpenko and company were allowed to run riot.
The Dynamo Kiev hitman cleverly pulled defenders in all directions, allowing his midfielders to exploit the gaping holes at the back.
In the end, all but one of their midfielders got on the scoresheet.
Said Baihakki: 'We concentrated on No 16 (Shatskikh) and forgot about the midfielders. He didn't score any of the first six goals, but he played a role in all of them.'
Ironically, it was the Lions who should have scored first, when Aleksandar Duric was put clear on goal in the eighth minute. But he failed to pull the trigger in time.
Duric made amends by scoring the first equaliser on 15 minutes.
His strike partner, Khairul Amri, also did well. He was a constant menace up front with his pace, winning a penalty on the half-hour mark that was converted by Mustafic Fahrudin.
Duric was replaced at half-time by Qiu Li, who marked his competitive debut with a long-distance effort that came off the crossbar, and led to Singapore's third goal from John Wilkinson.
'If anyone had asked me before the game that we would score three goals, I would've be happy,' said coach Raddy Avramovic, who will now have to pick up his charges in time for Saturday's match against the same opponents in Tashkent.
'Half of the goals that they scored, we had a big part to play in them,' he added.
But one consolation on the night was perhaps the Kallang Roar - 28,750 fans willing their heroes on, even when the match was clearly lost.
'The fans were fantastic today,' said Baihakki.
'Even at 2-5 down at half-time, they didn't leave. They stayed to cheer us on and that kept us going.
'I'm just sorry we couldn't have made it a closer match.'
tvoon@sph.com.sg
|
