Five-star Liverpool seal forgettable night for Singapore

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Pictures by Les Tan/Red Sports

Singapore National Stadium, Sunday, July 26, 2009 – Liverpool FC ended their pre-season tour of Asia on a high when they hit five goals past Singapore with Krisztian Nemeth netting a brace in the second half.

The Singapore defense deserved recognition for keeping the five-time European champions goalless in the first half. However, with the interval approaching, a lapse of concentration in the last minute of the first period allowed Andriy Voronin to give the visitors the lead at the break.

Liverpool then ran riot after the breather as they scored four goals with Albert Riera and Fernando Torres getting one each, while the 20-year-old Krisztian Nemeth helped himself to a brace to seal a forgettable night for Singapore football.

Despite resting starters Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, Liverpool dominated early goings with Ryan Babel coming close with a header following a cross from David Ngog but Hassan Sunny was equal to the header.

With Yossi Benayoun running rings around the Singapore defense, it was no surprise that shots were raining down on Singapore's goal with Daniel Agger and Andriy Voronin each taking long-range cracks at goal.

David Ngog also had a great opportunity to take the lead in the 25th minute, but his shot from an offside position was saved by the legs of Hassan Sunny.

At the other end, Shahril Ishak sent a weak effort towards goal in the 21st minute which was easily held by Diego Cavalieri. It was Singapore's only chance of the match.

Despite having no fortune at the other end, Singapore defense seemed to hold Liverpool off well with some brilliant last-ditched defending from the backline led by Daniel Bennett.

The match looked headed for a 0-0 stalemate at half-time despite a host of shots raining down on Singapore's goal, but Andriy Voronin gave Liverpool fans something to shout about.

At the stroke of half-time, Voronin received the ball at the edge of the area, and although he was surrounded by red SIngapore shirts, he sent a shot that took a deflection past Hassan Sunny for a 1-0 lead.

Much of the same followed in the second half, with Liverpool pushing for more. A fine cross from Javier Mascherano nine minutes into the second period found Riera who controlled it brilliantly with his chest before blasting the half-volley beyond Hassan Sunny.

The anticipated appearance of Kop hero Fernando Torres eventually came just after the hour, much to the delight of the 45,000 strong crowd. Dirk Kuyt also came on along side him to take the captain's armband in place of Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog.

Dubbed the best centre forward in the world at the moment, Torres made immediate impact, almost extending his side's lead, but his shot was well saved by Hassan Sunny.

Instead, it was Dirk Kuyt who stole the show as he created Liverpool's last three goals. He was first to react to a mistake by Daniel Bennett, collecting the ball near the half way line and driving into the area. With Krisztian Nemeth unmarked on his left, he slipped a pass to the Hungarian youngster who had the easiest of task to sweep the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0.

Xabi Alonso was soon brought on and the Liverpool fans were in ecstasy as Alonso had failed to take the pitch in their match against Thailand.

Five minutes later, Fernando Torres got his name on the score sheet. Despite forcing a fantastic save from substitute Lionel Lewis moments earlier, he wasn't about to be denied again with Dirk Kuyt playing the creator once more.

A brilliant through-ball found Kuyt's run into the penalty area, and the Dutchman squared the ball to the unmarked Torres, who claimed his first goal of the pre-season and Liverpool's fourth of the night.

Barely four minutes later, the team from Anfield scored their fifth with Kuyt providing the final cross yet again. Krisztian Nemeth claimed his second after his head met Kuyt’s accurate cross which hit the roof of the net beyond Lionel Lewis’ despairing dive.

Torres could have made it six at the death, but he flashed his header wide to the disappointment of the Liverpool fans.

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