News • April 20, 2017
High-Scoring Affair Awaits Warriors and Protectors
Warriors FC vs Home United
(Saturday, 22 April, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)
Written by: Shawn Lim
Two high-scoring teams in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League will go head to head on Saturday night when Warriors FC welcome Home United to the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
Both clubs have yet to lose a match in the league this season and have also found the back of the net 13 times, which is the joint-highest scoring record with league leaders Albirex Niigata (S).
For Warriors, a club that struggled for most parts of last season and finished seventh, the nine-time S.League championsâ revival of fortunes have been boosted by the addition of seasoned campaigners such as Baihakki Khaizan and Shahril Ishak.
Defender Emmeric Ong believes that the arrival of established stars, coupled with the teamâs understanding on and off the pitch, has helped the club to ensure a perfect start to their 2017 season.
âAs we have the personnel this season, I’m not surprised about how we’ve done thus far,â explained Ong.
âIt is also about understanding each other on and off the pitch because being unbeaten is one thing, playing well and getting the results is another. We could draw all five games and be unbeaten too.â
While scoring goals has not been an issue for Warriors this season, they have been leaking in goals at the other end as well, having allowed Garena Young Lions and Brunei DPMM to score three times against them.
Admitting that their defensive record in recent games has been far from ideal, Ong feels that the team have showed determination to eventually come away with a positive result.
âYes, we have conceded six goals in our past two games and it should be something to look at and improve on,â said the 26-year-old.
âHowever, the fighting spirit which we showed to not give up and come back to turn the game around, scoring nine goals in two games, is something to give credit to the team.â
Despite declaring his admiration for Homeâs scoring prowess – forward Stipe Plazibat is the top scorer in the league with eight goals – Ong is confident that Warriors are capable of clinching all three points.
âI agree that Home look really good offensively having scored so many goals both in the league and the AFC Cup,â noted Ong.
âBut we have to have the confidence in ourselves that on our day, we can beat any team in the league.
âWith experienced players like Bai (Baihakki Khaizan) and Hafiz O (Hafiz Osman) leading our backline, I’m sure we are able to nullify the threat posed by Home and get a good result.â
Warriors FC – WDWWW
15/04/17 Brunei DPMM 3-5 Warriors FC
08/04/17 Warriors FC 4-3 Garena Young Lions
01/04/17 Tampines Rovers 0-1 Warriors FC
10/03/17 Warriors FC 1-1 Geylang International
28/02/17 Balestier Khalsa 1-2 Warriors FC
Home United – WDWWW
18/04/17 Home United 4-1 Yadanarbon FC (AFC Cup)
09/04/17 Hougang United 0-2 Home United
05/04/17 Than Quang Ninh 4-5 Home United (AFC Cup)
01/04/17 Home United 2-2 Albirex Niigata (S)
14/03/17 Home United 3-2 Than Quang Ninh (AFC Cup)
Head to Head (S.League)
04/08/16 Home United 3-0 Warriors FC
22/04/16 Warriors FC 1-2 Home United
14/02/16 Home United 2-2 Warriors FC
21/10/15 Home United 2-1 Warriors FC
30/07/15 Warriors FC 2-2 Home United