21-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) The Singapore national football team, known as the “Lions,” faced a setback on Tuesday (November 21) at the National Stadium, despite fervent support from home fans. The Lions, unable to secure a victory, succumbed to a 1-3 defeat against regional powerhouse Thailand in the second round of Group C for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The match drew a crowd of 29,644 spectators, marking the largest audience for a home game in Singapore since the onset of the pandemic. However, it was the Thai siblings Supachok and Supanat who stole the show, contributing to all three goals and securing a crucial win for Thailand.
Supachok initiated a dream start for Thailand by scoring in the fifth minute. Singapore’s forward Shawal managed to equalize in the 41st minute, breaking the team’s goal drought against Thailand in the last four encounters. Nevertheless, Supanat sealed the victory for Thailand with impressive goals in the 66th and 87th minutes, securing the three points.
In the other match of the group, South Korea triumphed over China with a 3-0 scoreline, led by their star player Son Heung-min, who contributed with two goals and an assist. With this result, South Korea claims the top spot in the group with two consecutive victories.
Singapore’s upcoming fixtures in the group will be against China, with the Lions set to face them on March 21, 2024, at the National Stadium, followed by an away game five days later. The defeats in the initial matches of the qualifiers intensify the pressure on the Lions as they strive to advance in the highly competitive tournament.
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