Singapore notch 4-0 win over minnows Mongolia in friendly football match

SINGAPORE – On a special night that marked Hariss Harun’s historic 148th cap, the Lions gifted their skipper a victory at the Jalan Besar Stadium on May 31, when they breezed past 187th-ranked Mongolia 4-0 in a friendly match.

Goals courtesy of Safuwan Baharudin, Song Ui-young, Shawal Anuar and Ikhsan Fandi were enough to see off the visitors, who had not played an international match in nearly two years. They last beat Timor-Leste 2-0 in a 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Sept 10, 2024.

At the post-match press conference, Mongolia coach Marco Ragini said that he was upset with the manner in which his team lost.

The Sammarinese, who took charge on May 14, noted that he had only three training sessions with his players prior to playing in Singapore and had six players pull out just days before flying.

The 58-year-old said: “I’m upset, not about the result, but the way we conceded the goals… Because if Singapore is stronger and they play good football, I’d tip my hat to them.

“But two goals conceded when there were 10 players because we took three minutes to substitute players (is unacceptable) because of our organisation. Now it is my job and my mission to help the Mongolia national team improve…

“In the past, I changed the direction for several national teams. Now, there is another challenge in front of me, but if they give me the time, I will change the national team.”

The match was also a special milestone for Hariss, whose 148th international appearance saw him overtake Daniel Bennett to become Singapore’s most-capped footballer.

The 35-year-old received a standing ovation from the 4,234-strong crowd when he was substituted in the 76th minute.

Lions coach Gavin Lee, who became a father the day before when his wife gave birth to their son Jude Kawin Lee, was pleased with his charges’ performance.

He singled out Hougang United winger Farhan Zulkifli, who terrorised the left flank in the first half and provided an assist.

The 35-year-old said: “I liked the manner in which we finished (the match), and that was probably the most pleasing part for me, because quite easily, after half-time, we could have taken our foot off the gas and that has happened before.

“That was something that we’ve been stressing about – about being calm to the end, but being consistent as well, because we want to finish 90 minutes as good as we can and I’m just glad that we did it.

“Currently we have got a group that has been quite consistent in training and I’m very pleased for Farhan today. I thought Farhan deserved his start – he went on and did the job and showed that he can be a valuable asset for the team.”

Mongolia found it hard to shrug off their ring rust and it was the Lions who threatened first in the second minute, when Song laid off to Hami Syahin, but the midfielder fired high and wide.

The visitors had another scare in the 20th minute, after Shah Shahiran’s tame shot was spilled by Mongolia goalkeeper Saikhanchuluun Amarbayasgalan, but the defence was quick to clear the danger.

The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute, after Song was tripped by Mongolia captain Tsend-Ayush Khurelbaatar just inside the box and South Korean referee Kim Woo-sung pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Safuwan, who arrowed his spot kick into the top right corner.

Singapore had the ball in the net again in the 36th minute after Farhan’s shot was spilled by the goalkeeper, but Shawal was ruled offside.

But just two minutes later, the Lions doubled their lead as Farhan’s threaded pass found Song and the South Korea-born midfielder slammed it past Amarbayasgalan at the near post.

Substitute Kyoga Nakamura’s free kick in the 58th minute then found Shawal, who rose highest to head home Singapore’s third.

Ikhsan came off the bench to put the icing on the cake, when he headed home Irfan Najeeb’s cross in the 88th minute.

The world No. 147 Lions will next host 94th-ranked China on June 5 at the same venue.