Lions coach Tsutomu Ogura apologised following Singapore's 0-7 onslaught by South Korea
Following the 0-7 defeat to South Korea on 6 June, Lions’ head coach Tsutomu Ogura apologised for his team's performance, emphasizing the need for improvement. Meanwhile, South Korean footballer Son Heung-min praised Singapore's resilience and highlighted Asia's rapid football standards improvement.
SINGAPORE: On 6 June, South Korea delivered a football masterclass, dominating Singapore with a resounding 7-0 victory in a World Cup qualifier held at the Singapore National Stadium.
The electrifying performance witnessed South Korean luminaries Son Heung-min and Paris Saint-Germain wizard Lee Kang-in showcasing their prowess by scoring goals in front of a fervent crowd of 49,097 spectators at the National Stadium.
Addressing the media in the post-match conference, Lions’ head coach Tsutomu Ogura humbly apologized for his team's performance.
He expressed regret to the Singaporean supporters for the Lion’s underwhelming display, acknowledging the disappointment of the thousands who had come to witness the match.
Mr Ogura commended the South Korean side, acknowledging their superior performance.
“Of course, Korea was a different class. We need to move on to our next game and we should never give up and we must try to have much more improvement.”
“We need to move on to our next game and we should never give up and we must try to have much more improvement,” he added.
Korean player Son, honoured as the Man of the Match, praised the Lions for their resilience and acknowledged their clinical performance.
“When you look at the results, probably everybody will say the Singapore team was really poor, but it wasn’t the case.”
Additionally, Son highlighted the rapid improvement of football standards in Asia, particularly evident in this year's Asian Cup.
He emphasized the necessity for continuous hard work, stating, "They need to persevere because change won't happen overnight."
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Ahead of the match, Mr Ogura had expressed confidence, citing his team’s resilience in previous outings, including a commendable 2-2 draw against China.
However, the match revealed a significant gap between the South Korean and Singaporean football teams, with South Korea ranking 23rd globally compared to Singapore's 155th spot.
Son showcased his exceptional skills by contributing two goals to the tally, demonstrating why he is considered one of the top footballers worldwide.
Lee, the Paris Saint-Germain talent, opened the scoring with a stunning right-footed strike in the ninth minute, setting the tone for what was to become a long night for the Lions.
Singapore struggled defensively, and their brief moments of hope dwindled as South Korea capitalized on every opportunity.
The visitors effectively sealed the game in the second half, adding five more goals, with contributions from substitutes Hwang Hee-chan and Bae Jun-ho.
With just China left to face on 11 June in Seoul, the South Korean football team has secured the top spot in Group C, having accumulated 13 points from five matches.
Following their 1-1 draw with Thailand at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, China sits in second place with eight points, three ahead of the Thais.
Regardless of the result in their final match against Thailand on 11 June in Bangkok, Singapore will conclude their campaign at the bottom of the group standings.
