News • March 9, 2017
Confident Cheetahs Take On Young Lions
Confident Cheetahs Take On Young Lions
Hougang United vs Garena Young Lions
(Saturday, 11 March, 7.30pm, Hougang Stadium)
Written by: Phoon Jia Hui
Hougang United will be gunning for all three points when they entertain Garena Young Lions at the Hougang Stadium in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League on Saturday night.
The Cheetahs opened their season with a victory over Geylang International but fell 2-1 to Tampines Rovers in their last game and will therefore be looking to return to winning ways here.
It was a disappointing result against the Stags, but Hougang forward Pablo Rodriguez says he is âlooking forwardâ to the game and is raring to go.
âWe lost to Tampines but we are now back into action feeling confident and the spirit in the team has been good,â he said.
âWe have been working hard in training during the week in preparation for the match. We are confident and ready to fight for the three points.
âAs long as we do not make the same mistakes from our last game, I am sure we can get a win again.â
While he has an assist to his name when he set up Iqbal Hussain for Hougangâs second goal against Geylang, Rodriguez has yet to find the net for his club this season.
The Spanish is however, unfazed by that fact and is ready to bang in the goals to fire the side from the north-east to victory.
âI try to do my best in every game and although I haven’t scored yet, I am working on that aspect of my game,â he said.
âOf course, I hope that I can score in our next match and help my team to win.â
Meanwhile, Young Lions will continue the search for their first points of the season after suffering two straight losses to Home United and reigning league champions Albirex Niigata (S).
While it does not make for good reading, Young Lions captain Shahrin Saberin believes it is a matter of time before he and his team find their feet.
âOf course, itâs hard for the team to accept the defeats but the first two games were really an eye-opener for us,â admitted the 22-year-old.
âIt gave us an opportunity to know where our weaknesses lie and we will continue to work hard.
âIn the first two games, we were second best to almost everything. But to look at it in a positive way, we can take the negatives from the two matches and turn it to become a positive although it is going to be a gradual process.â
Against Hougang, a hopeful Shahrin is fancying his sideâs chances and feels they have every chance of getting a result.
âAs everyone knows, Hougang is a strong team with good foreign and local players,â he noted.
âThey will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Tampines so itâs gonna be interesting for sure. For us, we are still looking for our first three points of the season while Hougang are trying to get back the winning momentum.
âThe ball is round and anything can happen but one can expect a more organised and a Young Lions side who will be playing with more desire.â
Hougang United – LLLWL
03/03/17Â Â Â Tampines Rovers 2-1 Hougang United
27/02/17Â Â Â Hougang United 2-0 Geylang International
25/10/16Â Â Â Warriors FC 5-1 Hougang United
20/10/16Â Â Â Hougang United 0-1 Geylang International
14/10/16Â Â Â Albirex Niigata (S) 3-0 Hougang United
Garena Young Lions – LLLLL
04/03/17Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 0-5 Albirex Niigata (S)
27/02/17Â Â Â Home United 6-1 Garena Young Lions
15/10/16Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 1-3 Tampines Rovers
30/09/16Â Â Â Home United 5-2 Garena Young Lions
26/09/16Â Â Â Brunei DPMM 5-3 Garena Young Lions
Head to Head (S.League)
23/09/16Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 0-2 Hougang United
19/05/16Â Â Â Hougang United 1-1 Garena Young Lions
10/03/16Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 1-3 Hougang United
01/10/15Â Â Â Hougang United 2-2 Garena Young Lions
20/07/15Â Â Â Garena Young Lions 1-3 Hougang United