Singapore come back from two goals down to hold China in Lions coach Ogura’s opening game

SINGAPORE: Minutes after his side’s sensational comeback against China, Singapore head coach Tsutomu Ogura asked if he could take a swig of water before a post-match press conference.

Nobody could begrudge him a sip, or even a whole bottle, after a performance which was as much his players’ as was his.

The Lions showed heart, grit, and immense fighting spirit in the opening game of his tenure as they came back from two goals down to hold China to a 2-2 draw at the National Stadium on Thursday (Mar 21).

A Wu Lei first-half double seemed to have dashed any hopes of Singapore picking up any points in the third match of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

But substitute Faris Ramli gave the Lions a route back into the game before Jacob Mahler also came off the bench to smash home a late equaliser.

And despite a remarkable draw, there is more work to be done, said Ogura.

He told reporters after the game that he was not satisfied with the result and that Singapore could have won.

“Please don’t say congratulations,” he added.

Singapore had lost their first two matches in their qualifying group last November, with a 3-1 loss to Thailand and a 5-0 drubbing by South Korea.

But this was a much tighter affair.

And it was a different team, thanks to Ogura. While he said that he was no “magician”, he has clearly worked some wizardry.

Close to 70 places higher in the world rankings at 88, China dominated proceedings from the off. 

And with just 10 minutes played, striker Wu Lei capitalised on a pocket of space in the box to head home.

Ogura’s men pressed hard but their opponents appeared unfazed as they played their way out from the back on a number of occasions.

Singapore had Hassan Sunny to thank midway through the first 45 as he saved a weak