Lionel Tan of Hougang United tries to get to the ball ahead of Reo Nishiguchi of Tanjong Pagar United, 6 March 2022

 

SINGAPORE, 15 JULY 2022 – The AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) resumes this weekend with Geylang International in sublime form as they host reigning champions Lion City Sailors, while Albirex Niigata (S) aim to make up lost ground against Balestier Khalsa on Saturday evening. Tampines Rovers will be gunning to regain their footing in the race for an Asian Football Confederation Cup (AFC) qualification spot when they face Young Lions on Sunday evening, hoping to capitalise on either one of third-placed Tanjong Pagar United or fourth-placed Hougang United dropping points in the final fixture of the Matchweek. ALL LIVE on our YouTube channel and meWATCH!

 

READ: Matchweek 15 Roundup

 

Leaders face resurgent Eagles
Geylang International vs Lion City Sailors | 16 July | 5.30pm | Tampines | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 204

 

Team Form (last five league games):
Geylang International – LDWWW
Lion City Sailors – WLWWD  

 

Team news: Fadli Kamis is a long-term injury absentee for Geylang (anterior cruciate ligament), and forward Fareez Farhan is still not match-fit enough to make the matchday squad. Kieran Teo is available for the Eagles after returning from international duty.

 

The Sailors have a fully fit squad to pick from with no suspensions. Right-back Zulqarnaen Suzliman will be pushing for his first league start for the Sailors this season having worked his way back to full fitness. 

 

Facts

• The last time Geylang won at least four league games in a row was between May to July 2011, when they won five consecutive matches without conceding enroute to an eighth-place finish in a 12-team league.
• Geylang are one of two teams to defeat the Sailors this season – with a 1-0 victory at Our Tampines Hub in Matchweek 2.
• Zaiful Nizam has gone 270 league minutes without conceding and kept three consecutive clean sheets – five in total – and only Hassan Sunny (six) has more overall clean sheets this season.
• Sailors’ Maxime Lestienne leads the overall assists standings with 11, four more than the next-best player.

 

Albirex have no room for slip-ups
Albirex Niigata (S) vs Balestier Khalsa | 16 July | 5.30pm | Jurong East | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

 

Team Form (last five league games):
Albirex Niigata (S) – WWWWL
Balestier Khalsa – LLWLD

 

Team news: Albirex striker Tadanari Lee has returned to Singapore to continue his recovery, having previously sought treatment in Japan. Lee is still expected to be ruled out for a month or more but should make his return before the season concludes. Defender Shogo Toyomura is also nearing full fitness after his long-term hamstring injury but is still not ready for Saturday’s clash.

 

Balestier welcome back midfielder Gareth Low from illness and Aqil Yazid from international duty. However, young Serbian defender Ensar Brunčević has picked up a one-game ban for yellow-card accumulation.

 

Facts

• Albirex have won four of their last five meetings with Balestier, the exception being a goal-less draw in March 2021.
• Balestier have only managed to muster a solitary goal in their last five meetings with Albirex, scored by Šime Žužul in a 4-1 defeat in April 2021.
• Kodai Tanaka scored four goals against Balestier in Matchweek 2, the first player to net at least four goals in a SPL fixture since Andrei Varankou for Brunei DPMM in April 2019 – also coming in a 7-1 victory over the Tigers.
• Ryoya Taniguchi has six assists this season (joint-third in the league) but picked up his last assist in May 2022, setting up Shuhei Hoshino in a 3-1 away defeat to Hougang.
• Balestier can leapfrog Geylang into sixth place with a win provided the Eagles lose against the Sailors.

 

Tampines aim to recover lost ground
Tampines Rovers vs Young Lions | 17 July | 5.30pm | Tampines | Singtel Ch 112, Starhub Ch 202

 

Team Form (last five league games):
Tampines Rovers – LWLDL
Young Lions – DLLLL

 

Team news: Tampines will be without midfielder Firdaus Kasman as he serves a one-match suspension, whilst Shuya Yamashita is doubtful for this clash after suffering a concussion midweek. Ong Yu En’s status is unclear and also classified as doubtful.

 

Despite welcoming a large portion of their squad back from international duty including forward Khairin Nadim, Young Lions will still be missing defender Syahrul Sazali due to his National Service obligations. Key creative midfielder Joel Chew is also ruled out with COVID-19 and Fairuz Fazli is unavailable.

 

Facts

• Both sides come into this fixture win-less in their last five matches in all competitions.
• Tampines have triumphed in all of their last five meetings with Young Lions, with an aggregate score of 17-4.
• Tampines’ Boris Kopitović is currently the league’s runaway top scorer with 17 goals, but has not scored a single header this season.
• Former defender Ryhan Stewart is Young Lions’ top scorer this season with three goals, tied with striker Zikos Chua.

 

Flying Cheetahs meet resilient Jaguars
Hougang United vs Tanjong Pagar United | 17 July | 5.30pm | Hougang | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 204

  

Team Form (last five league games):
Hougang United – WLWDW
Tanjong Pagar United – WWLLW 

 

Team news: Andre Moritz remains sidelined with a fractured knee for Hougang. The Cheetahs have no other injuries or suspensions.

 

For Tanjong Pagar, midfielder Fathullah Rahmat is suspended after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season. Ryan Syaffiq and Shakir Hamzah are reported to be injured, whilst defender Shahrin Saberin has recovered from both injury and COVID-19 to be available for selection. Rusyaidi Salime also returns from suspension, in a timely boost for the Jaguars.

  

Facts

• Four of the last six meetings between both sides have ended in score draws – including the last three consecutive fixtures.
• All six goals scored this season in this fixture have been recorded past the 70^th minute mark.
• Tanjong Pagar’s Reo Nishiguchi is the most efficient forward in the league this season – scoring 13 goals from 44 shots at a success rate of 29.5%.
• Hougang’s set-piece specialist Zulfahmi Arifin has two assists in his last three league games, both coming from indirect free-kicks.
• The Cheetahs have only lost once (to Albirex) in their last seven league games, and will close the gap to third-placed Tanjong Pagar – for a guaranteed AFC Cup qualification spot – to two points with a win on Sunday.

 

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