Written by: Shawn Lim

Geylang International vs Garena Young Lions
(Thursday, 5 May, 7.30pm, Bedok Stadium)

Geylang International will welcome Garena Young Lions to the Bedok Stadium on Thursday night, hoping to build on their morale-boosting victory over Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League defending champions Brunei DPMM last week.

The Eagles became only the third club this season to beat the Wasps in Brunei and in the process, ended a wretched run of five winless games.

Now, Hasrin Jailani’s charges are hoping that that result will spark off a good run, starting with the Young Lions on Thursday night.

The Young Lions have not won a single game since their defeat of Balestier Khalsa on the opening day of season, but recent performances have suggested that Patrick Hesse’s young charges are making progress.

The return of of key striker Khairul Amri has also boosted the morale and confidence of the team even though he is slowly building up his game time.

Even though the Eagles are brimming with confidence now, Hesse just wants to ensure that his team focus on their own performance.

“Geylang played very well against DPMM because they pressed strongly, but the at the moment, the most important thing is to concentrate on ourselves,” said the Frenchman.

“But we just want to want on concentrate on defending better so that we can concede less goals and work on creating chances, as well as finishing them.”

Hesse also listed good football and team work as his main priorities that he wants his team to achieve against the Eagles.

“I want to see good football, aggressiveness when chasing second balls, good passing movement and I want to us playing as a team,” said the Frenchman.

“Playing as a team means all 18 players must adopt a mindset where they feel that they can win the game.”

The Young Lions will face the Eagles without the likes of Marcus Wheeler, Adam Swandi and Ammirul Emmran, while their opponents will miss Branko Cubrilo after the Croatian picked up his fourth yellow card of the season.

Suspension: Branko Cubrilo (Geylang International)

Key Men To Watch

Geylang International: Sahil Suhaimi

As Cubrilo will suspended for this game, goalscoring duties will fall to the 23-year-old who has only one goal to his name to date.

With the Young Lions already conceding 27 goals this season, Sahil will be keen to improve on his tally against his former side.

Garena Young Lions: Benjamin Bertrand

After a good start to life in the S.League, the Frenchman’s form has dipped, with his slow reflexes and bad positioning particular bugbears.

With his Young Lions’ contract coming to an end soon, Bertrand will be keen to put up a good performance in goal in order to earn an extension.

Geylang International – DLDLW

30/04/16  Brunei DPMM 1-2 Geylang International (S.League)
21/04/16  Geylang International 0-1 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
15/04/16  Geylang International 2-2 Home United (S.League)
07/04/16  Hougang United 3-1 Geylang International (S.League)
01/04/16  Geylang International 2-2 Warriors FC (S.League)

Garena Young Lions – LLLLL

28/04/16  Albirex Niigata (S) 3-0 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
21/04/16  Balestier Khalsa 2-0 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
08/04/16  Brunei DPMM 4-1 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
03/04/16  Garena Young Lions 1-2 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
17/03/16  Home United 4-1 Garena Young Lions (S.League)

Head To Head (S.League)

25/02/16  Garena Young Lions 0-2 Geylang International
06/11/15  Courts Young Lions 2-2 Geylang International
04/10/15  Courts Young Lions 2-3 Geylang International
20/08/15  Geylang International 1-3 Courts Young Lions
26/10/14  Courts Young Lions 1-1 Geylang International