It should not be all doom and gloom in Singapore's 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign, according to veteran defender Daniel Bennett, who has vowed to fight all the way.
Singapore's shock 2-1 home defeat to Chinese Taipei on June 10 leaves the four-time Southeast Asian champions bottom of Group E on one point after two matches.
But Tampines Rovers' veteran Bennett, who has won 136 caps since 2002, says the Lions have enough games to turn around their fortunes.
"We're pushing forward in the Asian Cup qualifiers. We still have a good chance. The group is wide open," Bennett told ESPN FC.
"It was disappointing the other day [in the loss] against Chinese Taipei because that was a big game for us. Getting the experience in the friendly against Argentina [on June 13] was good, but the disappointment of the other day hurt us a lot."
Bahrain's 2-1 victory away to Turkmenistan on June 13 leaves the West Asians top of Group E on four points, followed by Turkmenistan (three) and Chinese Taipei (three). Singapore drew 0-0 away to Bahrain on March 28.
The top two teams in the group will advance to the Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates in January 2019. If Singapore beat Turkmenistan at home on Sep. 5, they will move into second spot should Chinese Taipei lose at home to Bahrain.
"There are only two games gone, there's still another four to come," Bennett said. "We have two big home games, especially. We want to get maximum points.
"I don't think any team in the group is outstanding. Obviously, Bahrain are the top-ranked team, but I don't think there's any team who's unbeatable.
"We're pushing forward in the Asian Cup qualifiers. But our problem in Singapore has always been that we don't have a big pool of players, so we need to bring the youth up."
Bennett, who has never played in an Asian Cup, will turn 40 next January, two months before Singapore's final qualifier away to Chinese Taipei on March 27, 2018.