In a stunning turn of events, the Singapore Lions suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei in their final warmup match before next month’s highly-anticipated ASEAN Championship. The unexpected loss came as a stark wake-up call for head coach Tsutomu Ogura and his squad, who had been riding high after securing their first win under Ogura’s tenure just four days prior.
A Lackluster Display
The Lions looked a far cry from their usual selves, struggling to find any rhythm or cohesion for the majority of the match. The attacking prowess that had been on display in their previous outing was notably absent, with Singapore failing to muster a single shot on target in the first 70 minutes.
Defensively, the Lions were equally disjointed, allowing their lower-ranked opponents far too much time and space to operate. Chinese Taipei, who entered the match on a seven-game losing streak and sit 168th in the FIFA world rankings, took full advantage of Singapore’s disarray.
Ogura’s Experimental Approach
In Ogura’s defense, the Japanese tactician did use this final pre-tournament friendly to experiment with his lineup and tactics. He made a whopping nine changes to the starting eleven that had triumphed over Myanmar last Thursday, and revealed post-match that injuries had prevented him from tinkering even further.
“We want to challenge ourselves with a new system or new combinations,” Ogura explained. “Things that we would have already anticipated if they happen in the future.”
– Tsutomu Ogura, Singapore Lions Head Coach
While the result was undoubtedly disappointing, Ogura believes there are still positives to take away from the experience. He pointed to the opportunity to assess players in different positions and roles, as well as identifying potential impact substitutes.
Addressing the Lack of Urgency
One glaring issue that Ogura acknowledged was his team’s lack of urgency and endeavor for large swathes of the match. The Lions looked lethargic and disengaged until a late rally in the dying minutes, which Ogura attributed to a halftime wake-up call.
“In the first half, we didn’t make any great chances — that’s a problem,” Ogura admitted. “Compared to the last game (against Myanmar), we had many chances. This game, we were sleeping in the first half.”
– Tsutomu Ogura, Singapore Lions Head Coach
The coach revealed that he had spoken to his players about the need to show more fight and commitment, especially when attacking. He lamented the lack of bodies in the box when Singapore did venture forward, a stark contrast to their all-out approach in the frantic final minutes.
Lessons Learned for ASEAN Championship
Despite the bitter taste of defeat, Ogura remains focused on the bigger picture. With the ASEAN Championship kicking off in a matter of weeks, the former Albirex Niigata Singapore coach knows that every lesson learned now could prove invaluable in the heat of tournament play.
“I’ve told them many times but sometimes just being aware of the concept is not enough. Today, we learned a lot of things for AFF (the ASEAN Championship).”
– Tsutomu Ogura, Singapore Lions Head Coach
As the Lions lick their wounds and regroup, Ogura will undoubtedly be working overtime to address the shortcomings exposed by this shock defeat. With the hopes of a nation resting on their shoulders, Singapore cannot afford a repeat performance when the ASEAN Championship kicks off on home soil next month.
The road ahead may be rocky, but if Ogura can harness the hard lessons of this humbling experience, the Lions may yet emerge as a force to be reckoned with in Southeast Asia’s premier footballing showcase. For now, the focus shifts to fine-tuning and preparation, as Singapore aims to turn this setback into a stepping stone towards ASEAN Championship glory.
