Singapore Fans: 'Facing the Thai Team Is Easier Than Facing CAHN'

Singapore fans showed their frustration following Tampines Rovers' 0-4 loss to CAHN, criticizing the attacking struggles, defensive confusion, and admitting the significant difference in football quality between the two nations.

The 0-4 defeat to Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) in the first leg of the ACL Two knockout round not only put Tampines Rovers at risk of early elimination but also sparked a wave of harsh criticism from Singaporean fans. On forums and social media, many supporters openly expressed their disappointment with what was described as a "lifeless" performance by the S.League representative.

Most opinions suggested that Tampines was completely outmatched by the Vietnamese team's strength. From attacking organization to defensive structure, the visitors displayed numerous issues: "Tampines' performance was extremely poor. The offense lacked any real threat, and the defense was completely disorganized."

This comment quickly gained widespread agreement. Throughout the 90 minutes, Tampines barely created any clear chances, while their defense repeatedly made errors under the pressure from Quang Hải and his teammates.

Another fan bluntly compared the regional standings: "If they faced the Thai team, there might be a chance to win. But playing against CAHN, there's no hope."

This opinion reflects the reality that many Singaporean fans see Vietnamese football as having reached a new level in the region. CAHN not only excels in individual quality but also demonstrates strong cohesion, speed, and impressive control of the game.

Notably, a comment that stirred much debate directly addressed the skill gap: "The gap between Vietnamese and Singaporean football is currently too wide."

This assessment emerged amid ongoing significant investments by Vietnamese clubs, attracting national team players and high-quality talent, while the S.League has been seen as stagnating in competitiveness in recent years. After this heavy loss, Tampines Rovers will face immense pressure in the second leg at Jalan Besar. However, with a 4-goal deficit and CAHN’s convincing form, even the most optimistic Singaporean fans admit that the chance to overturn the result is extremely slim.