Written by: Shawn Lim

Warriors FC vs Hougang United
(Thursday, 14 April, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)

Hougang United will be looking to return to the summit of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League 2016 table when they pay Warriors FC a visit at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Thursday night.

The Cheetahs currently sit in third place with 13 points, a point behind leaders Albirex Niigata (S) and are keen to claim back the top spot by taking advantage of Warriors’ inconsistent form this season.

Steinebrunner’s men have dominated matches they have played in, they are struggling to put away multiple chances to kill off games even though top scorer Jonathan Behe has scored in every game.

While they have so far not been seriously punished for their profligacy in front of goal, Warriors will be wary of the high-flying Cheetahs, who are currently enjoying their football under coach K.Balagumaran.

Led by Stipe Plazibat and Jozef Kaplan upfront and supported by reigning Player of the Year Fumiya Kogure, Hougang are starting to look like a side that is capable of beating anyone on their day.

Shaiful Esah and Ismail Yunos will continue to miss out for Warriors, while Ali Hudzaifi will sit out the game for the Cheetahs because of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Key Men To Watch

Warriors FC: Nikola Rak

After a slow start to life in Singapore football, the Croatian has finally gotten into his groove and is one of the main reasons for Behe’s terrific strike rate.

With accurate passing and a willingness to take on defenders, Rak is a mix between an attacking midfielder and a second striker.

The Cheetahs will need to close the Croatian down if they want to prevent Behe from scoring for the seventh consecutive game in a row.

Hougang United: Jozef Kaplan

The Cheetahs captain goalless streak has now been extended to seven games as he has repeatedly failed to put away chances to score.

Even as he grows increasingly frustrated with his inability to score, the Slovakian is still dangerous and should be prevented from having too much possession of the ball.

Warriors FC – DLWDW

01/04/16  Geylang International 2-2 Warriors FC (S.League)
18/03/16  Warriors FC 2-0 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)
11/03/16  Balestier Khalsa 1-1 Warriors FC (S.League)
04/03/16  Warriors FC 2-0 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
27/02/16  Brunei DPMM 3-1 Warriors FC (S.League)

Hougang United – DWWLW

07/04/16  Hougang United 3-1 Geylang International (S.League)
02/04/16  Albirex Niigata FC (S) 2-0 Hougang United (S.League)
19/03/16  Hougang United 1-0 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)
10/03/16  Garena Young Lions 1-3 Hougang United (S.League)
04/03/16  Hougang United 0-0 Brunei DPMM (S.League)

Head to Head (S.League)

26/10/15  Warriors FC 2-0 Hougang United
04/08/15  Hougang United 4-1 Warriors FC
09/04/15  Warriors FC 1-0 Hougang United
08/06/14  Hougang United 3-2 Warriors FC
20/03/14  Warriors FC 2-0 Hougang United