Maxime Lestienne runs at a defender, 1 April 2022.

 

SINGAPORE, 4 APRIL 2022 – The AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) continues with midweek action as table-toppers Tanjong Pagar United visit Tampines Rovers, while the chasing pack of Lion City Sailors and Albirex Niigata (S) face Young Lions and Geylang International respectively. Elsewhere, Balestier Khalsa will fancy their chances of an upset against Hougang United. ALL LIVE on our YouTube channel and meWATCH!

 

READ: Matchweek 5 Roundup

 

Tigers eye scalp
Balestier Khalsa vs Hougang United | 5 Apr | 8.30pm | Toa Payoh | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 203

 

Team news: Balestier continue to miss young defender Amer Hakeem through injury, but goalkeeper Rudy Khairullah is now back in contention after being ineligible to face his parent club Sailors the last time out.

 

Hougang will miss the quintet of Pedro Bortoluzo, Hafiz Sujad, Muhaimin Suhaimi, Afiq Noor and Idraki Adnan, while centre-back Lionel Tan is unlikely to feature after contracting COVID-19 the previous week.

 

Facts

• The last time both sides met, Balestier triumphed 3-2 for their first win in five meetings at Toa Payoh.
• There have been at least three goals scored in five out of the last six encounters.
• Hougang have won just one out of their last eight games since defeating Tampines Rovers 7-3 in September 2021.
• Hougang have conceded in their last 12 matches since August 2021, while Balestier have not kept a clean sheet in eight outings since September 2021 – letting in at least four in each of their last four matches.
• Hougang’s Amy Recha has scored four in his last three outings against Balestier.

 

White Swans out to return to winning ways
Geylang International vs Albirex Niigata (S) | 5 Apr | 8.30pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub 201

 

Team news: Geylang may have to contend without Abdil Qaiyyim in defence again after the experienced defender missed the 3-2 Eastern Derby defeat to Tampines through injury. Full-back Ahmad Syahir is suspended after being sent off in that defeat.

 

As for Albirex, they will continue to miss Shogo Toyomura and Masaya Idetsu for at least the next couple of weeks.

 

Facts

• Albirex have won the last six encounters in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat at OTH in July 2019.
• There has been a winner in the last 18 games in all competitions since a 2-2 draw in the 2016 RHB Singapore Cup quarter-finals.
• The last time both sides met at OTH, Takahiro Tezuka scored a match-winning free-kick in a 2-1 win for Albirex; he is now with Geylang.

 

Unbeaten Jaguars gunning for upset
Tampines Rovers vs Tanjong Pagar United | 6 Apr | 8.30pm | Our Tampines Hub | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch 203

 

Team news: Tampines will continue to miss the injured Irfan Najeeb, but they should welcome back Ong Yu En after the young midfielder missed the Eastern Derby through illness.

 

As for Tanjong Pagar, Shakir Hamzah and Shahrin Saberin are out for the next few months while forward Khairul Nizam will also miss out due to a hamstring injury.

 

Facts

• Three out of the last four encounters have ended in 2-2 draws, with the Jaguars coming back on all three occasions to earn a point.
• Tanjong Pagar have yet to beat Tampines since their SPL return in 2020, with three draws and two defeats to date.
• Tanjong Pagar’s last win against Tampines came in August 2014 in a 1-0 victory at Clementi – Tampines assistant coach Fahrudin Mustafic captained the Stags in that game, while Tanjong Pagar team manager Noh Alam Shah came on at half-time against his current side.
• Tanjong Pagar are undefeated in their last eight SPL matches – their best run of form since an 11-match run in May 2000.
• Tampines have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 SPL matches since May 2021.

 

Baptism of fire for Young Lions
Young Lions vs Lion City Sailors | 6 Apr | 8.30pm | Jalan Besar | Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch 201

 

Team news: Young Lions key duo Zulqarnaen Suzliman and Ilhan Fandi are likely to miss out after coming off through injury in the 3-2 defeat against Tanjong Pagar on Sunday, while full-back Harith Kanadi is doubtful due to sickness. Attackers Daniel Goh and Danish Qayyum should be able to return to bolster their options.

 

For the Sailors, Faris Ramli and Saifullah Akbar remain doubtful after missing the 4-0 win over Balestier through injury.

 

Facts

• The Sailors have won all five encounters since their 2020 inception.
• Young Lions have conceded at least a goal in each of their last 39 SPL matches since a 3-0 win over Sailors’ predecessor Home United in September 2019.
• Young Lions have let in at least three goals in their three games so far this season.
• A defeat will see Young Lions lose their opening four games for the first time since 2020.
• Sailors’ Gabriel Quak has scored five times in his last five outings against Young Lions.

 

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