Geylang International vs Hougang United

(October 21, Tuesday, 7.30pm, Bedok Stadium)

Written by: Phoon Jia Hui

Hougang United will face Geylang International on Tuesday night with the best possible incentive left for the club – to achieve seventh spot.

The equation is pretty simple for the Cheetahs now. Avoid defeat, and Geylang have absolutely no chance of overtaking them in the league. Lose here, and Geylang will go two points behind the Cheetahs going into the final fixture of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League season.

Hougang however, have not made things easy for themselves. After dropping out of contention for a top-six finish, they could have sealed seventh with a win over Harimau Muda earlier this month but fell 1-0 to the Young Tigers instead.

They come into this match on the back of a 2-0 loss to bogey team this season, Courts Young Lions and Geylang will not be easy meat for the visiting Cheetahs, especially since this will be the Eagles’ last home game of the season.

On a good run of form recently, Jorg Steinebrunner’s side will be aiming to give their fans more things to cheer about at home.

In particular, Hougang goalkeeper Fadhil Salim will have to be wary of Geylang’s set-pieces, as Leonel Felice and Kento Fukuda are especially good headers of the ball. With Wahyudi Wahid – who returns from suspension – in Hougang’s backline, the lack of aerial height might be cruelly exposed by the aforementioned duo.

The goals too have dried up for Diego Gama, after a blistering few months early in the season. Hougang will therefore need their Brazillian to start chipping in with the goals again, so that in combination with Geison Moura, the Geylang defence will have their work cut out for them.

Suspension: Fairoz Hasan (Hougang United)

Key Men To Watch

Geylang International: Hafiz Nor

As Harimau Muda have learnt last week, leave Hafiz Nor alone at your own peril.

The pacy winger had a storming game against the Young Tigers in their last match as he ripped their defence apart and managed to get his name on the scoresheet.

He has been knocking on the doors for a place in the national team and it will not be long before Hafiz gets to don the colours of the national jersey if he keeps this up.

Hougang United: Shunsuke Nakatake

With the Hougang strikers blowing hot and cold of late, the game could well be won in midfield and Shunsuke Nakatake could well hold the key to that.

A tenacious player, the Japanese midfielder is also able to keep the ball moving with simple passes and he will be looking to keep the Geylang midfield of Fabian Kwok and Franco Chivilo in check and win the battle in the middle of the park.

Geylang International – WWDLW

15/10/14  Harimau Muda 1-2 Geylang International

3/10/14    Geylang International 2-1 Woodlands Wellington

19/9/14    Geylang International 1-1 Tanjong Pagar United

28/8/14    Geylang International 3-4 Albirex Niigata (S)

25/8/14    Tanjong Pagar United 1-2 Geylang International

Hougang United – LLWLL

18/10/14  Courts Young Lions 2-0 Hougang United

4/10/14    Hougang United 0-1 Harimau Muda

18/9/14    Woodlands Wellington 0-3 Hougang United

2/9/14       Hougang United 1-2 Harimau Muda

27/8/14    Balestier Khalsa 4-1 Hougang United

Head to Head (S.League)

23/6/14     Hougang United 2-0 Geylang International

11/4/14     Geylang International 3-2 Hougang United

29/10/13  Hougang United 4-1 Geylang International

10/7/13    Hougang United 0-1 Geylang International

27/3/13    Geylang International 2-0 Hougang United

11/7/12     Geylang International 1-2 Hougang United

3/3/12       Hougang United 2-0 Geylang International

30/9/11     Geylang International 1-2 Hougang United

20/6/11     Hougang United 0-2 Geylang International

23/3/11     Geylang International 2-1 Hougang United