RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final Second Leg

Loyola Meralco Sparks FC (PHI) vs Home United

(July 3, Thursday, 8.00pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

(First Leg score: Home United 2-0 Loyola Meralco Sparks FC)

Written by: Kenneth Ho

Loyola Meralco Sparks  FC will take on Home United for the second time in four days as they look to overturn a 2-0 aggregate.

Qiu Li and Yasir Hanapi had scored in the first leg at Bishan Stadium to provide the visitors with a comfortable cushion to fall back upon.

In the first leg, Home United were clearly the more dominant side, as the Sparks rarely had a sight at goal. Home were able to rest Fazrul Nawaz and Bruno Castanheira in that game, as both started from the bench.

Coupled with the two-goal lead, this bodes well for the Protectors as they can afford to put fresh legs on and still have nothing to worry about.

Home coach Lee Lim Saeng admitted it was a good lead to have, but that the game was far from over.

Loyola Meralco coach Vincent Santos echoed the same sentiments, as he insisted anything was possible in the next 90 minutes.

However Santos knows full well his team has all to do, and they will need to considerably raise their performances.

Graham Cayhill was a handful for Home’s defence with his strength, but he was let down by a lack of support from his teammates in the first leg.

With Phillips Younghusband still struggling to regain fitness, the attacker slated to orchestrate offensive moves will be his brother James Younghusband. James had a rather quiet game in the first leg, aside from a diving header which Home goalkeeper Shahril Jantan managed to keep out.

The midfielder needs to offer more in terms of movement, especially to shrug away the attentions of Precious Emuejeraye and Song Inyoung. The duo were a rock in defense then as they repelled all kinds of passes into the box.

The good news for the Sparks may be that given the two-goal cushion, Home may decide to give them a rest due to the hectic fixture of the club.

Loyola Meralco Sparks FC – LWWLW

30/6/14     Home United 2-0 Loyola Meralco Sparks FC (PHI) (RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final First Leg)

26/6/14    Kaya FC 2-3 Loyola Meralco Sparks

17/6/14    Pasargard FC 0-5 Loyola Meralco Sparks

10/6/14    Stallions FC 3-1 Loyola Meralco Sparks

5/6/14       Loyola Meralco Sparks 3-2 Pachanga FC

Home United – WDLLW

30/6/14    Home United 2-0 Loyola Meralco Sparks FC (PHI) (RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final First Leg)

24/6/14    Home United 0-0 Woodlands Wellington

20/6/14    Balestier Khalsa 3-0 Home United

13/6/14    Hougang United 3-1 Home United

10/6/14    Home United 3-1 Harimau Muda