Šime Žužul of Geylang International tries to beat Daichi Omori of Albirex Niigata (S), 5 April 2022

 

SINGAPORE, 18 OCTOBER 2022 – The final Matchweek of the 2022 AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) commences with Hougang United hosting Balestier Khalsa and Tampines Rovers taking on Tanjong Pagar United on Thursday night. The Cheetahs have a chance to secure fourth spot, while Tampines’ 33-goal forward Boris Kopitović will have one eye on the Top Scorer award. Champions Albirex Niigata (S) face a resilient Geylang International side who will finish fourth with victory on Friday night, while the Lion City Sailors end their campaign against the Young Lions. ALL LIVE on our YouTube channel and meWATCH!

 

READ: Matchweek 27 Roundup 

 

Cheetahs hunting down fourth spot
Hougang United vs Balestier Khalsa | 20 October | 7.45pm | Hougang | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 201

 

Team Form (last five league games):
Hougang United – DWDLW
Balestier Khalsa – LLWDL

 

Team news: Head coach Clement Teo will be suspended from the touchline after picking up his second yellow card of the season. Defender Nazhiim Harman is also suspended, while Kaishu Yamazaki will be absent from the squad due to disciplinary reasons.

 

Peter de Roo will welcome back the trio of Amer Hakeem, Ensar Bruncevic and Khalili Khalif from injury and has a full squad to select from.

 

Facts

• Neither of the last seven meetings have ended in a draw; Balestier have won four times, Hougang thrice.
• Hougang can potentially secure fourth place with a victory, provided other results go their way.
• Both Hougang (22) and Balestier (23) have the lowest first-half goal total, only ahead of bottom-dwellers Young Lions (17).
• Balestier have lost 15 of the 18 matches when they conceded the first goal.

 

Kopitović chases Top Scorer accolade
Tampines Rovers vs Tanjong Pagar United | 20 October | 7.45pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 202

 

Team Form (last five league games):
Tampines Rovers – WWDWW
Tanjong Pagar United – DWWDL

 

Team news: Tampines continue to be without long-term injury absentee Marc Ryan Tan as well as defender Amirul Haikal, who is suspended.

 

For Tanjong Pagar, Faizal Raffi is suspended together with Raihan Rahman who has yet to pay his $500 fine for yellow-card accumulation at time of writing. Defender Aqhari Abdullah has a groin niggle but is likely to be fit to play. Head coach Hasrin Jailani will have both Rusyaidi Salime and Blake Ricciuto back from suspension.

 

Facts

• There have been three draws in the last five meetings, with each team sharing one win apiece; Tanjong Pagar won 4-2 in Matchweek 11, Tampines won 4-3 in Matchweek 20.
• Tanjong Pagar can secure fourth position with a win if other results go their way.
• Tanjong Pagar defender Raihan Rahman has eight assists this season, all coming from set-pieces; five indirect free-kicks and three corners.
• Boris Kopitović, currently the league’s Top Scorer with 33 league goals, has never scored a header in the league (28 right-foot, five left-foot).
• Kopitović has scored twice against Tanjong Pagar this season in three previous meetings.

 

White Swans enter the Eagles’ nest
Geylang International vs Albirex Niigata (S) | 21 October | 7.45pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 202

 

Team Form (last five league games):
Geylang International – WLDDW
Albirex Niigata (S) – WWDWL

 

Team news: Fadli Kamis (anterior cruciate ligament) remains ruled out for the Eagles, while goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam faces a late fitness test for an ankle injury. Huzaifah Aziz continues to be suspended having not paid a $500 fine for red-card accumulation at time of writing.

 

For Albirex, defenders Daichi Omori and Yoshiki Matsuura are still injured and ruled out. Fairoz Hasan is still regaining match fitness but remains a doubt for this fixture.

 

Facts

• Geylang have failed to beat Albirex in any of their last eight league meetings (two draws, six losses).
• The last time the Eagles emerged victorious was in July 2019 – a 1-0 win courtesy of a stoppage time winner from Zikos Chua.
• Geylang are currently in fourth place and will secure fourth spot with a victory.
• Albirex are the second-most prolific team from corner kicks (eight), while Geylang have conceded the second-most corner-kick goals in the league (seven).
• Geylang’s Zaiful Nizam has won the league’s Golden Glove award with nine clean sheets this season, two ahead of nearest competitor Hassan Sunny.
• Kodai Tanaka is one goal behind Kopitović’s total of 33 goals; he has scored three goals in three previous meetings with Geylang.

 

Sailors aiming to finish strong
Lion City Sailors vs Young Lions | 21 October | 7.45pm | Jalan Besar | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 201

 

Team Form (last five league games):
Lion City Sailors – LLLLW
Young Lions – LLLDL

 

Team news: The Sailors welcome back veterans Hassan Sunny and Hariss Harun from injury and suspension respectively. Long-term absentees Amiruldin Asraf, Pedro Henrique and Zulqarnaen Suzliman are still ruled out. Defender Nur Adam Abdullah will also miss this fixture having not regained full match fitness, while Maxime Lestienne is suspended.

 

Captain Jacob Mahler and forward Zikos Chua remain long-term absentees for Young Lions. Nazri Nasir will also be without forward Khairin Nadim (Covid-19) and goalkeeper Rauf Erwan through injury. Nor Hakim Redzuan and Harhys Stewart are fit again and available for selection.

 

Facts

• Young Lions have lost all of their eight league fixtures against the Sailors.
• The 10-1 drubbing of Young Lions was a club-record win for the Sailors in Matchweek 20.
• The Sailors are the highest scoring team with 89 goals in comparison with Young Lions who have conceded a league-high 101 goals.
• The Young Lions are two goals away from matching the record, currently held by Balestier Central who conceded 103 goals during a 33-match season in 2002.

 

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