S.LEAGUE - SINGAPORE - NEWS

  

UNDERSTRENGTH TIGERS PUT UP STRONG FIGHT FOR WIN

A depleted Balestier Khalsa overcame the odds to see off Hougang United 3-2 at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

The Tigers had started match missing at least five regular players through injury and suspension, with Prime League players such as Afiq Tan and Hazzuwan Halim filling their bench.

Midfielder Tarik Cmajcanin was also asked to fill in as a makeshift striker, as Miroslav Kristic and Robert Pericic were unavailable.

This saw Hougang dominating the first half, as Balestier struggled to keep hold of the ball.

In fact, the Cheetahs had tested Zaiful Nizam within the opening minutes of the game, with the Balestier custodian required to push away Nurhilmi Jasni's shot.

 

Balestier finally managed to go forward in the 15th minute, with Zulkiffli Hassim threading a pass through to Cmajcanin but the latter disappointingly screwed his shot wide.

The Tigers then went ahead against the run of play in the 20th minute, as the Hougang defence went to sleep and allowed Jonathan Xu to run through unmarked.

The midfielder still had work to do though, as he chested down Yusiskandar Yusop's cross and flicked it over Ridhuan Barudin before heading into an unguarded goal.

Four minutes later, Balestier enjoyed a huge slice of luck to score another goal, with Ignatius Ang's free-kick deflected off Delwinder Singh to wrongfoot Ridhuan.

Hougang tried their hardest to come back from the two-goal deficit as they piled the pressure on Balestier, but they were unable to make Zaiful work.

The Cheetahs finally managed to pull a goal back right after the break, with Emir Lotinac diverting Fazli Jaffar's cross past his own goalkeeper to make it 2-1 in the 46th minute.

 

Gama then came close with a volley of his own which went just wide before Sotirovic's piledriver went straight into Zaiful's arms.

However, their failure to equalise came back to haunt them in the 58th minute, as Balestier regained their two-goal lead.

Ang was allowed to cut in from the left and his pinpoint pass found Cmajcanin, who was allowed time and space to calmly place the ball home from seven yards out.

There was still ample time for Hougang to make a comeback, but they were not helped by Vuk Sotirovic and Diego Gama missing their chances from close range.

Finally, they managed to make it 3-2 in the 90th minute, with Kunihiro Yamashita taking on Sotirovic's chest down before finishing past Zaiful to set up a nervy finish to the game.

However, Hougang failed to make their chances count in injury time with Zaiful parrying Gama's before Yamashita missed another chance as he lashed over after finding himself through on goal.

Balestier Khalsa: Zaiful Nizam (GK) (C), Yusiskandar Yusop, Hanafi Salleh, Emir Lotinac, Zulkiffli Hassim, Ridwan Jamil (Nurullah Hussein76'), Tarik Cmajcanin, Jonathan Xu (Hazzuman Halim 66'), Ignatius Ang (Afiq Tan 81'), Poh Yifeng, Ahmad Syahir

Hougang United: Ridhuan Barudin (GK), Delwinder Singh, Kunihiro Yamashita, Atsushi Shimono, Carlos Delgado (Taufiq Ghani 87'), Diego Gama, Vuk Sotirovic, Faizal Amir (Fairoz Hasan 70'), Fazli Jaffar (Fareez Farhan 57'), Tengku Mushahdad, Nurhilmi Jasni (C)

PROTECTORS HOPE TO CONTINUE GOOD CUP FORM AGAINST WARRIORS

Written by: Shawn Lim

RHB Singapore Cup (Quarter-Final First Leg): Warriors FC vs Home United

( Choa Chu Kang Stadium)

Uniformed giants Warriors FC and Home United will face off in the first leg of the 2015 RHB Singapore Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

Both teams received a bye into the knockout stages of the competition as seeded teams and will be eager to make full use of this opportunity to win the Cup.

Home have traditionally done well in this competition as they have won the 2013 edition and reached the finals again last year before losing to eventual winners Balestier Khalsa.

In contrast, Warriors last won the Cup in 2012 before being knocked out in the preliminary stage by Balestier last year.

Even though Alex Weaver’s charges went on to win the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League last year after failing at the first hurdle of the Singapore Cup, Weaver intends to do well in the competition this time round.

“It will be a good couple of games against Home United, home and away, I'm really excited. It should be a good game and good for Singapore football,” Weaver said in April after the draw was made.

“We've a good chance of doing well in the competition, and we want to do well in the competition.

“To try and retain the league is a priority, but to get a good successful run in the Cup would be gratifying. We're capable of it.”

Warriors FC - WLDLW

07/08/15    Warriors FC 2-1 Tampines Rovers (S.League)

04/08/15    Hougang United 4-1 Warriors FC (S.League)

30/07/15    Warriors FC 2-2 Home United (S.League)

23/07/15    Warriors FC 0-2 Courts Young Lions (S.League)

01/07/15    Warriors FC 1-0 Tampines Rovers (League Cup)

Home United - WDDDW

06/08/15   Home United 4-2 Harimau Muda

03/08/15   Balestier Khalsa 1-1 Home United (S.League)

30/07/15   Warriors FC 2-2 Home United (S.League)

22/07/15   Home United 0-0 Brunei DPMM (S.League)

01/07/15   Home United 3-0 GFA Sporting Westlake (League Cup)

C

Karlo Ivancic (57')

:
Full Time

2
Home United FC

Ken Ilso (55')

Ken Ilso (70')

Sirina Camara (15')

Yasir Hanapi (90')

TABLE STANDINGS

•  
• P
• W
• D
• L
• GD
• PTS

• 1
• Albirex Niigata FC (S)
• 16
• 9
• 2
• 5
• 8
• 29

• 2
• Warriors FC
• 15
• 9
• 1
• 5
• 0
• 28

• 3
• Brunei DPMM FC
• 14
• 7
• 5
• 2
• 9
• 26

• 4
• Balestier Khalsa FC
• 15
• 7
• 4
• 4
• 6
• 25

• 5
• Tampines Rovers FC
• 14
• 6
• 3
• 5
• 5
• 21

• 6
• Home United FC
• 16
• 4
• 7
• 5
• 1
• 19

• 7
• Harimau Muda
• 12
• 5
• 1
• 6
• -5
• 16

• 8
• Hougang United FC
• 16
• 3
• 5
• 8
• -8
• 14

• 9
• Geylang International FC
• 15
• 3
• 3
• 9
• -8
• 12

• 10
• Courts Young Lions
• 13
• 3
• 3
• 7
• -8
• 12