Singapore goalkeeper Lionel Lewis made a string of brilliant saves as the city state side claimed a fortunate 2-1 win over North Korea at the Singapore Invitational Tournament on Sunday evening.
An Chol-hyok was the only North Korean player to beat Lewis with a 59th minute header, cancelling out Ridhuan Muhammad's first-half opener.
However, Indra Sahdan headed home a cross by John Wilkinson 16 minutes from time to give the home side victory.
DPR Korea dominated the first half and would have gone ahead if not for the heroics of Lewis, who stopped efforts by Jon Chol and Park Nam-chol before using his left leg to deflect a point blank effort by An Jong-ho over the crossbar on 24 minutes.
The North Koreans, who also saw An Chol-hyok blaze over in the 36th minute, would pay for their profligacy four minutes later when the home side took the lead against the run of play.
Fazrul Nawaz won the ball in midfield and played it forward for Ridhuan to superbly lob Ri Myong-guk from 25 yards.
Lewis did brilliantly again on 59 minutes to deny Kim Kwang-hyok but the substitute won possession on the byline and crossed for An Chol-hyok to head home the equaliser.
Choe Chol-man then outpaced Noh Rahman on the left flank to burst clear on the Singapore goal but his initial shot was well-saved by Lewis and the Korean player headed his rebound into the side netting.
That miss would prove costly as Singapore regained the lead in the 74th minute when debutant John Wilkinson worked space for himself on the left of the DPR Korea box before crossing for Indra to head home the winner.
Kim Kwang-hyok had a final chance to draw the sides level in the dying minutes but his fierce shot from the edge of the box was stopped once again by Lewis.
However, Indra Sahdan headed home a cross by John Wilkinson 16 minutes from time to give the home side victory.
DPR Korea dominated the first half and would have gone ahead if not for the heroics of Lewis, who stopped efforts by Jon Chol and Park Nam-chol before using his left leg to deflect a point blank effort by An Jong-ho over the crossbar on 24 minutes.
The North Koreans, who also saw An Chol-hyok blaze over in the 36th minute, would pay for their profligacy four minutes later when the home side took the lead against the run of play.
Fazrul Nawaz won the ball in midfield and played it forward for Ridhuan to superbly lob Ri Myong-guk from 25 yards.
Lewis did brilliantly again on 59 minutes to deny Kim Kwang-hyok but the substitute won possession on the byline and crossed for An Chol-hyok to head home the equaliser.
Choe Chol-man then outpaced Noh Rahman on the left flank to burst clear on the Singapore goal but his initial shot was well-saved by Lewis and the Korean player headed his rebound into the side netting.
That miss would prove costly as Singapore regained the lead in the 74th minute when debutant John Wilkinson worked space for himself on the left of the DPR Korea box before crossing for Indra to head home the winner.
Kim Kwang-hyok had a final chance to draw the sides level in the dying minutes but his fierce shot from the edge of the box was stopped once again by Lewis.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
How did the A-League not see this Aussie talent?
Aussie scores brilliant go-ahead goal in Asia
