Singapore delivered a convincing 4-0 victory over Mongolia at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday evening, with goals from Safuwan Baharudin, Song Ui-young, Shawal Anuar and Ikhsan Fandi ensuring a comfortable win in front of 4,234 fans.

The result marked another positive step for Gavin Lee’s side as they continue preparations for next year’s ASEAN Championship Hyundai Cup, while the evening also belonged to captain Hariss Harun, who earned his 148th international cap to become Singapore’s most-capped player, overtaking Daniel Bennett’s long-standing record.

Hariss received a standing ovation from the Jalan Besar crowd when he was substituted in the second half, capping a memorable night for one of Singapore football’s most enduring figures. While the scoreline was emphatic, Lee was particularly pleased with the manner of the performance, having challenged his players before kick-off to remain “calm and consistent” throughout the 90 minutes.

“I think the most pleasing part was that after half-time we could easily have taken our foot off the gas, and that has happened before,” said Lee. “We spoke about being calm and being consistent because we wanted to finish the 90 minutes as strongly as we could. I’m glad that we managed to do that.”

Singapore controlled proceedings for long periods and showed little sign of complacency despite facing a Mongolia side playing its first international match in almost two years. For Lee, that ability to maintain standards from start to finish was as important as the four goals his side scored. “Football can very easily be defined by moments,” he explained. “If you don’t manage the good moments, the easy moments and the difficult moments, things can change very quickly. The challenge is always to be consistent throughout the 90 minutes. I thought that would be one of the biggest obstacles for us today. I’m very glad that we were able to maintain our standards throughout the game.”

The Lions’ depth was also on display, with several players making strong impressions as Lee rotated his squad. The Singapore coach described the performance as a collective effort rather than an individual one. “To achieve what we wanted tonight required a squad effort,” he said. “The whole squad had to play their part. The players who came on had to maintain the standards that we started with, and I thought they did that.”

Among those to catch the eye was Farhan Zulkifli, who was rewarded with a starting berth after impressing in training. “I’m very pleased for Farhan,” Lee said. “I thought he deserved his start because of what we’ve seen from him in training. He went out there, did his job and showed that he can be a valuable asset to the team.”

Goalscorer Shawal Anuar was equally encouraged by the display, believing it can serve as another building block as the Lions continue their preparations for bigger tests ahead. “We had a good performance tonight and hopefully we can push ourselves further and be inspired to achieve something bigger in the next year,” said Shawal.

Lee was also quick to emphasise that the team’s progress is measured by more than just results and scorelines. “When we talk about performance, it’s not just about a pretty image of football,” he said. “A big part of our identity is our grit, our desire and our never-say-die attitude. Those values are just as important as the football we play. Regardless of the opposition, we have to go out there and show our identity.”

For Mongolia, the result underlined the size of the rebuilding challenge facing new head coach Marco Ragini, who has been in charge for only a matter of days. The experienced Italian admitted it was difficult to accept conceding four goals but stressed that the bigger picture remains the long-term development of Mongolian football.

“I don’t feel good because it’s been a long time since I’ve taken four goals,” said Ragini. “But I have only been with this team for one week. We need to improve in many areas, not only technically but also organisationally.”

Ragini, who has also taken on a wider technical role within Mongolian football, repeatedly pointed to the limited preparation time available before the trip to Singapore. “I have only had two or three training sessions with the players,” he said. “The first training session I had only seven players. The last day before travelling was the first time I had the full squad together.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Ragini saw enough to reinforce his belief in the project ahead, even if he acknowledged that significant work remains. “There are many attitudes and habits that we must change,” he said. “I need time, and that’s logical.”

The coach also reserved praise for Singapore’s progress, describing the Lions as an example of a national programme moving in the right direction. “Singapore is better than our team at this moment,” he admitted. “Congratulations to Singapore, to the coach and to the federation. I think they have a clear direction and a very good project. They know what they must do and they know the direction they want to go.”

Ragini was equally complimentary about the atmosphere generated by the home support at Jalan Besar. “Every time I come to Singapore, I meet amazing supporters and amazing fans,” he said.

For Singapore, however, attention quickly shifts to a sterner examination against China PR next Friday at the same venue. After a dominant victory, a clean sheet and a record-breaking night for their captain, the Lions will enter that encounter full of confidence, but, as Lee has repeatedly stressed, determined to remain calm, consistent and focused on the bigger picture.

Singapore played Mongolia on 31st May 2026 at Jalan Besar Stadium. The next friendly will take place against China next Friday, 5th June 2026 at Jalan Besar Stadium. Tickets available from Ticketek