Goals from Aleksandar Duric and Fazrul Nawaz were enough for the home team to cruise to the win against their decimated visitors, who were without a number of key players for the game.

Lebanon coach Emile Rustom might have known he was in for a tough night in Kallang with the likes of Ramez Dayoub, Abbas Ali Atwi and Ali El Atat all injured. To make matters worse, star player Roda Antar could not travel to Singapore due to visa problems.

In all, he was forced to make six changes to his starting line-up that played in the 1-0 loss to Uzbekistan on February 6, while Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic only made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia.

The home side's aggressive start surprised the visitors, who found themselves a goal down after just eight minutes, albeit somewhat fortuitously.

Shi Jiayi's shot from just outside the box deflected off a Lebanese defender to Duric, who had ample time to pick his spot and rifle a shot past goalkeeper Lary Mehanna.

Poor defending was to cost Lebanon again in the 23rd minute. Nawaz dispossessed a Lebanese player in midfield and raced into the box, beating Mehanna easily to make it 2-0.

A well-organised Singapore back four, marshalled by the imposing Precious Emuejeraye, limited Lebanon to long-range efforts in the main. The closest in the early stages was a 13th-minute free-kick from Khaled Hamieh which was easily gathered by Lionel Lewis.

The Lions came close to doubling the lead in the 16th minute. Yet after a neat exchange of passes with Duric, Nawaz's weak effort was easily gathered by Mehanna.

Singapore still had the bit between their teeth in the second half. Duric had the crowd on their feet in the 49th minute when his fierce drive had the beating of Mehanna but was denied by the far post.

Lebanon had better chances in the second half. Abbas Atwi's effort from the right was tipped over by Lewis in the 55th minute, while Shi's fierce drive from long range was palmed away by the Lebanese custodian four minutes later.