As halftime approached with the score deadlocked at 0-0, Lions coach Takayuki Nishigaya and his team had the chance to acknowledge their solid defensive efforts against South Korea and strategize for the second half.

Unfortunately, a momentary lapse in concentration proved costly, as a goal from South Korean forward Cho Gue-sung in the 44th minute opened the floodgates, leading to a 5-0 defeat for the Lions at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

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Despite being 131 places below South Korea in the world rankings, Singapore displayed resilience in the initial period, limiting the hosts’ chances. However, the superior quality of their opponents became evident in the Group C World Cup qualifier. Following a 1-0 deficit at halftime, the Lions conceded additional goals in the second half from Hwang Hee-chan, South Korea captain Son Heung-min, Hwang Ui-jo, and Lee Kang-in.

Facing a sell-out crowd of 64,381 spectators, Singapore grappled with the formidable South Korea lineup that included top players like Son, Lee from Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae, and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan..

South Korea continued their dominance, with Cho providing an assist for Hwang Hee-chan early in the second half. Son showcased his world-class ability with a spectacular goal in the 63rd minute, while Hwang Ui-jo converted a penalty in the 67th minute. PSG’s Lee added the final goal in the 85th minute.

Looking ahead, Singapore will host Thailand at the National Stadium next Tuesday, while South Korea faces China in Shenzhen.