The Singapore women's national football team suffered a heavy defeat to Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, at the 19th Asian Games.
The match, which took place on Sep. 24, 2023 at Wenzhou Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, ended with a 7-0 win to DPRK.
Of the seven goals, five were headers.
First half
DPRK took the lead after about 10 minutes, with a goal from Hong Songok.
Gif adapted via video from Mediacorp/YouTube.
Minutes after that, Ri Kumhyang doubled her side's lead.
Gif adapted via video from Mediacorp/YouTube.
The first half ended with a scoreline of 2-0 to DPRK.
ππππ π§ππ π
19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 | Sunday, 24 September 2023
DPR Korea 2 - 0 Singapore
β½οΈ Hong Songok 11'
β½οΈ Ri Kumhyang 14' pic.twitter.com/0hONEusP7N
β FAS (@FASingapore) September 24, 2023
Second half
DPRK extended their lead in the second half after about five minutes, with a goal from Myong Yujong.
Gif adapted via video from Mediacorp/YouTube.
Around four minutes after that, Ju Hyosim scored the fourth goal.
Gif adapted via video from Mediacorp/YouTube.
Ri Hak scored her side's fifth goal in the 58th minute.
Gif adapted via video from Mediacorp/YouTube.
In the 61st minute, Kim Kyongyong headed in DPRK's sixth goal.
Gif adapted via video from Mediacorp/YouTube.
And Sung Hyangsim sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Gif adapted via video from Mediacorp/YouTube.
After a gruelling 96 minutes for Singapore, the match ended with a 0-7 win to DPRK.
ππ¨ππ π§ππ π
19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 | Sunday, 24 September 2023
DPR Korea 7 - 0 Singapore
β½οΈ Hong Songok 11'
β½οΈ Ri Kumhyang 14'
β½οΈ Myong Yujong 51'
β½οΈ Ju Hyosim 54'
β½οΈ Ri Hak 58'
β½οΈ Kim Kyongyong 62'
β½οΈ Sung Hyangsim 90' +3 pic.twitter.com/fd6JyTIO4B
β FAS (@FASingapore) September 24, 2023
Key players missing
22 Lionesses players were selected for the Asian Games. This is the first time they are competing in the Games.
However, some notable players were missing from the squad, including teen prodigy Danelle Tan who is in Germany to focus on her club career with Borussia Dortmund.
Putri Nur Syaliza, who was the first local female footballer to be offered an overseas athletic scholarship, was not part of the squad either as she is overseas to take her exams at Oakland University in the U.S.
Meanwhile, key attacker Nur Izzati Rosni, who scored Singapore's winning goal against Laos at the 31st SEA Games, ruled herself out of selection.
The Straits Times reported that Izzati made the decision to focus on "improving [her] mental well-being".
Besides Izzati, former captain Ernie Sontaril was dropped from the squad while forward Lila Tan withdrew to pursue her studies overseas, as well as other commitments.
On Sep. 19, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced that defender Nur Umairah Hamdan was forced to withdraw from the squad due to an injury.
This was the starting eleven and substitutes against DPRK:
Our Starting XI against DPR Korea tonight π#HangzhouAsianGames pic.twitter.com/NfmSaKFQ8X
β FAS (@FASingapore) September 24, 2023
Must face DPR Korea twice
Singapore, which was placed in Group C in the Games, were initially scheduled to play against both DPRK and Cambodia.
However, after Cambodia's withdrawal from the Games, Singapore will have to play DPRK twice with the overall winner to be determined either by points or by a superior goal difference.
The Lionesses will face DPRK again on Sep. 27, 2023.
Top images via Mediacorp/YouTube and FAS/Twitter.