SINGAPORE — It was a scoreline which did not truly reflect a largely gritty display from Singapore, but football is a cruel game.

At the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium on Tuesday (March 26), Singapore suffered a 4-1 World Cup qualifier defeat by China.

After a 21st-minute Wu Lei strike gave China the lead, Faris Ramli equalised a minute later. But a second-half penalty by Fernandinho swung the momentum the way of the home side, and late goals from Wu Lei and Wei Shihao added a gloss to proceedings.

Singapore and China headed into the game in contrasting moods, with the Lions buoyed by a 2-2 comeback draw at the National Stadium last Thursday. Their opponents, on the other hand, were widely criticised following the result.

Captain Zhang Linpeng had even said he would quit international football over the "humiliating" result, before making a retirement U-turn. 

In chilly Tianjin, Singapore were without three members of Thursday's starting 11, with Safuwan Baharudin and Lionel Tan missing through suspension and midfielder Anumanthan Kumar absent due to injury.

Branko Ivankovic's men looked like a side determined to make amends as The Lions struggled to keep possession.

The first big chance came China’s way with 20 minutes played but Zhang Yuning could only blaze the ball high with the goal gaping.

But the home side, who are close to 70 places higher in the world rankings at 88th, would seize the initiative a minute later. Wu Lei took advantage of Singapore’s high defensive line to burst through and dink over Hassan Sunny.

However, Singapore have shown that they are not a side to go down without a fight under coach Tsutomu Ogura.

Straight from the kickoff, a diagonal from skipper Hariss Harun caught China’s right back napping but found the onrushing Ryhan Stewart. A lovely cross from the 24-year-old found the head of an onrushing Faris Ramli, and Singapore were back level.

It was Hassan to the rescue towards the end of the first half, as he spread-eagled to block a close-range shot.

The last time Singapore beat China in a competitive match was at the 1983 Merlion Cup, with the Lions winning 1-0 in the semi-final, according to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). 

Against the odds, the Lions were trying to emulate this feat.

The pacy Faris fashioned Singapore’s first chance of the second half as he cleverly stole possession just outside the box but could only curl a tame shot into the arms of Wang Dalei.

Days after they were denied what looked like a clear penalty, another refereeing decision cost Singapore dear. Jacob Mahler was adjudged to have pulled down Gao Junyi. Replays showed that the decision was a marginal one, but Fernandinho made no mistake from the spot.

But Singapore continued to stay in the contest, and had the wind in their sails after Li Yuanyi was sent off in the 79th minute for hacking at substitute Joel Chew's ankles.

As Singapore pressed for a goal, they left gaps at the back and Wu Lei pounced, firing in a superb individual effort to effectively end the fixture. Minutes later, substitute Zulfahmi Arifin was dispossessed and skipper Wu Lei unselfishly set up Wei for the fourth.

The result means the Lions remain bottom of their World Cup qualifying group with a solitary point.

They have two games remaining — against South Korea at home and away to Thailand. CNA