Football: Singapore beat Laos 2-0 in international friendly

With just one win this year, the Singapore national football team needed a morale booster and Bernd Stange's men got that by beating Laos 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday evening. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
With just one win this year, the Singapore national football team needed a morale booster and Bernd Stange's men got that by beating Laos 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday evening. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

With just one win this year, the Singapore national football team needed a morale booster and Bernd Stange's men got that by beating Laos 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday evening.

Centre-back Baihakki Khaizan gave the Lions the lead after five minutes when he headed home left-back Shaiful Esah's swerving corner at Yishun Stadium.

Forward Khairul Amri added a second in the 32nd minute when he nodded in a cross from winger Faris Ramli.

The Lions' only other victory in seven previous matches this year came in September when the team beat Papua New Guinea 2-1 in a friendly at Hougang Stadium.

The sparring match against Laos is part of national coach Stange's preparations for the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup, which starts next Saturday with an opener against regional powerhouse Thailand at the National Stadium. Singapore's other Group B opponents are Malaysia and Myanmar.

The Lions' next warm-up game is against Cambodia next Monday at Yishun Stadium.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.