Hougang United vs Home United

(Friday, 12 Aug, 7,45pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Written by: Koh Yizhe

With the scorecard this season in the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League reading one-all, Home United and Hougang United will be seeking to do one better over their each other when the two teams meet on Friday’s LIVE match at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

In the first matchup of the year, the Cheetahs edged the contest with Croatian striker Stipe Plazibat grabbing the only goal of the game. Then, in April, it was goals galore with the Protectors coming up tops with a 3-2 win at the Bishan Stadium.

Their position in the league are very similar as well. Hougang United are in fifth, three points behind Home but holding a game in hand. A positive result definitely will go a long way in potentially overtaking the Protectors at the end of the season. Along with last year’s champions Brunei DPMM, they are in the race for third.

Both teams will be depending on their talismanic foreign strikers to lead them to all three points on this occasion. For Hougang, Plazibat has been a torn in the side of team’s defence, accumulating 10 goals so far in the race for the golden boot. Similarly, Ken Ilso is in scintillating form, most recently grabbing a brace in the comfortable 3-0 victory over the Warriors last Thursday.

The Danish striker is now joint top scorer with 13 goals to his name – tied with Brunei DPMM’s Rafael Ramazotti – with six games to go in the S.League season. He will be looking to terrorize Hougang United’s backline and add to his tally against Hougang United.

At the other end, Home will be looking to plug any defensive leaks that they endured previously. A clean sheet in the match against the Warriors would have given new coach Aidil Sharin plenty to smile about, but that is one aspect that he highlighted which needs work. Though they are currently the third best team in the league, they have conceded 28 goals and are only in that position thanks to a superior goal difference.

Both teams should have their full squads available for selection and the match is lining up to be cracker. In Aidil’s second game in charge, a maintenance of his 100% record will be his aim while his opposite number, K Balagumaran with plenty of experience under his belt, seek to take all three points back home.

Hougang United – LLWWL

30/07/16 Hougang United 1-2 Geylang International (League Cup)

25/07/16  Hougang United 2-1 Balestier Khalsa (League Cup)

21/07/16  Hougang United 4-1 Warriors FC (League Cup)

17/07/16  Hougang United 0-2 Brunei DPMM (League Cup)

13/07/16  Tampines Rovers 6-4 Hougang United (League Cup)

Home United – LWDLW

04/08/16 Home United 3-0 Warriors (S.League)

26/07/16  Brunei DPMM 1-0 Home United (League Cup)

22/07/16  Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Home United (League Cup)

18/07/16  Geylang International 0-5 Home United (League Cup)

14/07/16  Home United 0-2 Albirex Niigata (S) (League Cup)