The Singapore Football Scene Thread

No problem, Lincoln ;)

News taken from TODAY newspaper..

saudisgtd.jpg
 
Looks like Channel 5 will not be showing it live, which is a disappointment. So I guess watching it online is our only choice.
 
Single cautions from World Cup Qualifiers Rounds 1 & 2 Cancelled

SINGAPORE, 05 February 2008: The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has written to all Member Associations of teams taking part in Round 3 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (Asian Zone) to inform them that all single cautions received by players in the previous two qualifying rounds are CANCELLED with immediate effect.

This will mean that Faizal Hamid, Ismail Yunos, Noh Rahman, John Wilkinson and Khairul Amri who received single cautions in the first two rounds against Palestine and Tajikistan will have them cancelled before our Lions kick off their third round campaign against Saudi Arabia tomorrow in Riyadh.
 
Road to South Africa: Lions look to clip Green Falcons' wings

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM Asian Qualifiers Round 3, Group 4

Saudi Arabia vs Singapore

Wednesday 6 February 2008

Kick off: 2015hrs (Singapore time Thursday 7 February 0115hrs)

King Fahad International Stadium

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia




*The FAS Official Website (www.fas.org.sg) will carry ‘live’ text commentary and updates.



RIYADH, 5 February 2008: Singapore will kick off their 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Zone Round 3 Qualifying campaign on Wednesday 6 February against four-time World Cup Finalists Saudi Arabia at the King Fahad International Stadium in Riyadh.



The match kicks off at 8.15pm local time.



“It’s the biggest game, I would say, since we met China (in an Asian Cup Qualifier in 2006),” said Lions’ coach Radojko Avramovic on the eve of the match.



“It’s definitely our most important challenge ever.”



Singapore has trained thoroughly in preparation for the match having played three friendly matches against Kuwait, Oman and Jordan in the past two weeks.



There is a small doubt over defender Daniel Bennett’s fitness. He reported a minor groin strain after Monday’s evening training.



“If Daniel is not fit we will bring in Ismail Yunos,” said the coach. “Daniel will train with us this evening and we will see how it goes then.”



Avramovic also noted that Lionel Lewis would be handed the captaincy for this important match as regular captain Indra Sahdan will start on the bench.



“Indra is still our captain,” he said. “There is no change there. When he is on the field he will carry the armband as usual.”

Avramovic hinted that his aim will be to contain the Saudis in the first half and he may then unleash some of his other players as the game unfolds in the second half.



The Saudis are likely to field a side that has changed little over recent months though Abdul Rahman Al-Qahtani has not been included in their squad due to a lack of regular playing time following his transfer to Al-Ittihad.



Saudi’s Brazilian coach, Helio dos Anjos had stressed that he would only be including players with regular first team football at club level.



But it is the star performer, the more well-known Al-Qahtani, Yasser, who will be the man to watch



Avramovic has been emphasising the importance of keeping the reigning AFC Player of the Year quiet as any coach might.



Apart from the 25 year old Yasser, striker Malek Mouath, a year older, is an ever-present danger.



The Green Falcons’ recent form is patchy, with their recent 2-1 friendly win over Luxembourg only their second win in five matches. They had lost 3-1 at home to Syria in December as well as 2-1 away to both Egypt and Libya in November. They had however beaten Estonia 2-0 in that month too.



Avramovic continues to stress the importance of playing as a team.



“My players know that this is no time for individuals, it is vital we all give 100 per cent as a team in this match.”



“We all want to go to the World Cup and the players will all be putting their hearts into it. That is all I can ask of them, to give their best for Singapore.”



Probable lineup: Lionel Lewis (gk) (captain), Noh Rahman, Baihakki Khaizan, Precious Emuejeraye, Daniel Bennett, Shahril Ishak, Mustafic Fahrudin, John Wilkinson, Shi Jiayi, Khairul Amri and Aleksandar Duric.

faizal_rocks says:

Sorry its suppose to be 0115am not 0130am. My mistake..;P

I hope my score prediction will come true ;)
 
Full Time score:

Saudi Arabia 2 Singapore 0

We were outclassed by 2 well taken goals. Nvm. I`m looking forward to our home game against Lebanon in March next ;)
 
bros

2 well taken goals by Asia's no.1 team.This is almost the same side that appeared in Asian Cup finals against Iraq.World ranked no 59th against Lions ranked 125th

nevertheless, it showed how far we have come in recent times.2-0 against Saudi not bad.

Arsenal 5-1 against Newcastle ??
 
I would say we are lucky we didn`t get a thrashing unlike Thailand who got thumped 4-1 by Japan. How we miss NAS...

Nvm, 5 more games to go starting with a match with Lebanon next..gona buy me tickets once they are released..:)
 
Road to South Africa: Battling Lions go down 2-0 to Saudi in 3rd round opener

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM Asian Qualifiers Round 3, Group 4

Saudi Arabia 2-0 Singapore

Wednesday 6 February 2008
King Fahad International Stadium
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia


RIYADH, 6 February 2008: Singapore went down 2-0 to Asian giants Saudi Arabia in the opening Group 4 Third Round World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

Two late goals in each half were enough for all three points for the four-time World Cup Finalists.

The home side had the majority of possession in the first half with Singapore restricted to half chances of shots from the edge of the box. One such effort saw John Wilkinson crack his volley just wide of the post from the edge of the box.

The Saudis however looked dangerous whenever they were on the attack and their persistence paid off when AFC Player of the Year Yasser Alqathani shrugged off the attentions of two defenders to chip the advancing Lionel Lewis for the opening goal on 38 minutes.

Our Lions almost had an instant response with Wilkinson volleying straight at the keeper from just outside the box following a corner. Just before half-time, Aleksandar Duric conjured up a chance when his dipping shot the top of the box sailed just wide of the post.

Overall, the home side were well worth their slender lead at the break and they started the second half in almost the same fashion.

Our Lions then slowly worked their way back into the game and started stringing more passes together but lacked penetration up front and in our final pass.

Mustafic Fahrudin came closest to levelling matters when his speculative effort from 20 metres went just wide of the keeper's right after 65 minutes.

Saudi remained dangerous and they made the game safe with a moment of brilliance by substitute Malek Alhawsawi nine minutes from time. Malek received the ball just inside the box and despite the close attentions of two of our defenders, swivelled and bent a right-foot curler beyond Lewis' outstretched arms to nestle nicely in the bottom right corner of the net.

In the other Group 4 game played earlier this evening in Beirut, Uzbekistan came away with all three points after a 1-0 win over Lebanon..

The next matches are on 26 March with Singapore hosting Lebanon and Uzbekistan at home to Saudi Arabia.

Singapore: Lionel Lewis (gk) (captain), Noh Rahman, Baihakki Khaizan, Precious Emuejeraye, Daniel Bennett, Shahril Ishak, Mustafic Fahrudin, John Wilkinson, Shi Jiayi, Khairul Amri (Ridhuan Muhammad 46') and Aleksandar Duric (Indra Sahdan 86')

The article above was extracted from the FAS website.
 
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