Joey's open with an 8-0 win.

The Joey's beat Chinese Taipai 8-0 yesterday and play in UAE today in their second group game of the 22nd Lion City Cup Championship.

Singapore FA Press Release below.

Australia and UAE big winners on Day One of Lion City Cup

SINGAPORE, 10 March 2008: Australia and UAE both gave an early statement of intent with identical 8-0 wins at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium this evening on the opening day of the 22nd Lion City Cup Championship.

The Joeys dished out a footballing lesson to Chinese Taipei in the pouring rain and were well worth their emphatic scoreline. However, their head coach Martyn Crook dismissed the idea that there will be any complacency in their next match against the UAE.

"Our next opponent will be tough and there is no time for any complacency if we are to do well."

Incredibly UAE then proceeded to hand Singapore B a similar 8-0 thrashing in the second Group A encounter. On a rainy day, lightning certainly struck twice at Choa Chu Kang.

Said Singapore B coach Masanaga Kageyama, "We are hugely disappointed with the scoreline. At least, we can focus on our weak points and we will reorganise for our next game."

The host's other representatives did not fare so well either as the U-17s (Singapore A) went down 1-0 to Vietnam in their Group B encounter at the Singapore Sports School.

Said Singapore A coach Salim Moin, "We did not start off so well but as the match wore on, we got into the game more and created several chances. Unfortunately, we could not take them but I'm pleased with how we play and we now look forward to our next match."

Vietnam's goal came in fortuitous fashion on 15 minutes when an attempted clearance from the Singapore backline came off Nguyen Dinh Dao's shin wrong-footing Singapore custodian Mohd Khairulhin.

Vietnam coach Nguyen Quang Hai was beaming after the tough win in trying conditions. "I'm very happy with this win. Singapore made it difficult for us and the win is very good."

In the other Group B match, Thailand edged out Uzbekistan in a physical encounter 1-0 thanks to a 36th minute penalty by winger Surachet Ngamtip.

22nd Lion City Cup Championship

Match Day 1 (10 March 2008)

Group A
Australia 8-0 Chinese Taipei
Singapore B 0-8 UAE

Group B
Singapore A 0-1 Vietnam
Uzbekistan 0-1 Thailand

Match Day 2 (12 March 2008)

Group A (Jalan Besar Stadium)
UAE vs Australia (1700hrs)
Singapore B vs Chinese Taipe (1930hrs)

(Please note that the 2nd match at Jalan Besar Stadium on all match days will kick off at the later time of 1930hrs)

Group B (Singapore Sports School)
Vietnam vs Uzbekistan (1700hrs)
Thailand vs Singapore A (1900hrs)