SINGAPORE beat Vietnam 5-4 on penalties after their Tiger Beer Challenge Trophy football friendly at Jurong East Stadium last night ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.

The Lions scored through John Wilkinson (39th minute) and Agu Casmir (78th), but Vietnam equalised twice through Le Cong Vinh (42nd, penalty) and Phan Van Tai (90th).

Lions goalkeeper Lionel Lewis then saved Le Phuoc Tu's spot-kick for the win.

However, their title defence was dealt a blow by football's world governing body, Fifa.

It has ruled that China-born striker Qiu Li is ineligible to play for the national squad in the Suzuki Cup as he has not satisfied the new five-year residential requirement that was passed by the Fifa Congress on May 30.

The 26-year-old will satisfy this requirement only in January 2010.

The Football Association of Singapore had tried to appeal against the decision, saying that Qiu became a Singapore citizen on May 5, before the requirement was amended.

He has also resided in the country for two years - a previous requirement stated by Fifa.

However, the appeal failed as Fifa stated that Qiu had not represented Singapore in an official Fifa-sanctioned competition before the change came into effect on May 30.

While Qiu did play for the Lions in a friendly against Bahrain on May 28, Fifa does not recognise the match as being among its sanctioned competitions.

Said a disappointed Qiu: "I'm very sad. However, my heart will be with the boys and I'm confident they will do well."

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