Written by: Shawn Lim

Warriors FC vs Hougang United
(Tuesday, 25 October, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)

Hougang United will be looking to end their 2016 Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League campaign in the top half of the league table when they pay Warriors FC a visit in their final game of the season at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Tuesday night.

Even though the Cheetahs missed out on qualifying for the 2017 AFC Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Geylang International last week, a fifth-placed finish in the league can be considered a marked improvement from last season, where they finished as cellar-dwellers. It will also be their highest finish in their 18-year history.

Hougang however, have a major crisis in defence as all their centre-backs are out injured and have fielded a makeshift defence in their past few matches to little success, which is why they are coming into this game on the back of two defeats.

They will not be helped by the absence of box-to-box midfielder M.Anumanthan and the versatile Nazrul Nazari as both players will be suspended for this tie.

Cheetahs coach K.Balagumaran has suggested that the prospect of having a chance to play in the continental competition next year has fazed his players, but tipped them to bounce back to secure what would be the highest league finish in the club’s history.

“I think the talk about qualifying for AFC Cup gave my players a bit of pressure, while Geylang was more composed in their play,” suggested Bala after the loss to the Eagles.

“At the start of the season, the club set a target of finishing in the top five and it is still achievable. So we’re going for the three points in our final game (against Warriors FC).”

Meanwhile, Warriors are on the opposite end of the spectrum having endured a season of changes and results that will see them end their 2016 season in the bottom three for the first time in their illustrious history.

The nine-time S.League champions began the season with Jorg Steinebrunner in the dugout, but it will be Razif Onn that will finish the season with them after the German was sacked as head coach midway through their campaign after a series of poor results.

With only pride left to play for, Warriors’ players will be keen to ensure that they play well enough to secure their place in the team next year.

Suspension: M.Anumanthan and Nazrul Nazari (Hougang United)

Warriors FC – LWDWL

14/10/16  Geylang International 2-1 Warriors FC (S.League)
30/09/16  Warriors FC 2-0 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)
22/09/19  Balestier Khalsa FC 1-1 Warriors FC (S.League)
26/08/16  Warriors FC 5-2 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
19/08/16  Brunei DPMM 3-0 Warriors FC (S.League)

Hougang United  – LWDLL

20/10/16  Hougang United 0-1 Geylang International (S.League)
14/10/16  Albirex Niigata (S) 3-0 Hougang United (S.League)
01/10/16  Hougang United 1-1 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)
23/09/16  Garena Young Lions 0-2 Hougang United (S.League)
26/08/16  Hougang United 1-2 Brunei DPMM (S.League)

Head to Head (S.League)

23/06/16  Hougang United 1-3 Warriors FC
14/04/16  Warriors FC 0-1 Hougang United
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