Singapore striker Ikhsan Fandi celebrates after scoring the first goal against Yemen in their 2022 World Cup qualifying match at the National Stadium. (PHOTO: Football Association of Singapore/Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE — On paper, it may seem like a decent result for the Singapore national football team - a 2-2 draw against a side ranked 20 spots above them in the Fifa world rankings.

But the Lions have to be kicking themselves for not getting the win, and two extra points, in their opening 2022 World Cup Asian Zone Group D qualifying match against Yemen at the National Stadium on Thursday (5 September).

For they crafted a flurry of chances throughout the match with impressive, intelligent movements, and dominated possession against the outclassed Yemen players, who offered little other than plenty of niggling fouls.

Yet, they allowed Yemen two shots on goal in the first half through defensive lapses -- and the visitors gleefully punished them with their two goals.

It was a harsh lesson for the Lions, and head coach Tatsuma Yoshida could not hide his disappointment at not getting a victory in his first competitive match in charge.

"Yes, we should have won," he said in the post-match media conference. "Our first half was almost perfect: the boys played according to plan, and with the right attitude and energy.

"But we didn't take our early chances to score. And at the end of the half, we had problems transitioning from attack to defence, and Yemen had the players to counter-attack and score."

View photos Yemen's Abdulwasea Al-Matari (left) wheels away in celebration after scoring their first goal against Singapore in their 2022 World Cup qualifying match at National Stadium. (PHOTO: Football Association of Singapore/Yahoo News Singapore) More

Goals conceded due to ‘lack of experience’

Nevertheless, the Japanese refused to single out any culprits for the defensive lapses, preferring to say that his team "lacked the experience" to keep Yemen quiet for the whole match.

And he is adamant that the back-line he trotted out -- which included 34-year-old veteran Baihakki Khaizan, selected for his 135th cap ahead of Irfan Fandi -- is capable of carrying out his high-defensive-line strategy.

When asked if the same back-four will feature in the Lions' next World Cup qualifying match against Palestine on Tuesday, Yoshida said, "Yes, provided that their conditions (after tonight's match) are all right."

While the Lions' defence has plenty to improve on, their attack has improved dramatically in the three months under Yoshida. Players were alert to one another's movements off the ball, and Yemen's defence line was repeatedly shredded by rapid exchanges and astute running by the forwards.

No wonder Yemen coach Sami Hasan Al-Hadi sounded relieved that his side got one point from this away match.

"This Singapore team surprised me with their quality. We had to work so hard to get the draw," he said.

View photos Singapore's Faris Ramli (left) celebrates scoring the Lions' second goal against Yemen in their 2022 World Cup qualifying match at the National Stadium. (PHOTO: Football Association of Singapore/Yahoo News Singapore) More

Strong start to the match for Lions

Indeed, from the opening whistle, the Lions pressed hard, bossed the midfield and linked up smartly in the final third to create openings in the resolute Yemen defence.

Several half-chances arrived quickly, but were spurned by wayward finishings from Faris Ramli and Shahdan Sulaiman. Still, their vibrant movement allowed them to dominate proceedings, much to the approval of the 7,018-strong fans.

Ikhsan Fandi, a constant thorn among the Yemen defence, had already gone close with an acrobatic bicycle kick in the 26th minute when he pounced again a minute later after some sterling work down the left flank.

A clever backheel by Faris released left-back Shakir Hamzah, who sent an inch-perfect cross towards Ikhsan, who eluded his marker to head home and give the Lions the lead.

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