Tanjong Pagar United vs Home United

(July 30, Wednesday, 7.30pm, Queenstown Stadium)

Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Tanjong Pagar United welcome Home United at the Queenstown Stadium on Wednesday evening as the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League resumes, after the month-long affair of the StarHub League Cup.

The Jaguars were on an impressive run in the League Cup as they reached the final but eventually lost out out to Brunei DPMM in a 2-0 scoreline.

They scored 11 goals in their first two games after outstanding 4-0 and 7-1 wins over Albirex Niigata (S) and Police SA respectively, before penalty shootouts penned down in their favour in the knockout rounds.

They overcame Warriors FC 1-0 after extra-time, thanks to a solitary strike by Firdaus Idros, before their penalty shootout triumph over Hougang United in the semi’s.

Home on the other hand started off the group stages well but were shown the exit door after the quarter-final, succumbing to Hougang.

In the league, currently sitting at sixth place, Home are seven points behind league leaders Brunei DPMM and a positive result against the Jaguars can see them go as high as third place.

As for Tanjong Pagar, this season’s S.League has not been the best for them as they are dwelling in tenth place, third from bottom.

It may not be possible for them to reach the top half of the table, but certainly, a seventh place is reachable, with a win against the Protectors allowing them to climb two spots up.

With the likes of Monsef Zerka, Kamel Ramdani, Sebastien Etiemble and Firdaus Idros plying their trade, Home’s backline which makes up of Song Inyoung, Kwon Dakyung, Sirina Camara and Juma’at Jantan would have to stay on their feet to make sure they do not lose any more valuable points in this critical stage of the season.

Spectators can look forward to find out which position would Ahmad Latiff be deployed as, as the 35-year-old has been playing in various positions, from the backline to the frontline.

Suspensions: Hanafi Salleh, Ruzaini Zainal (Tanjong Pagar United).

Key Men To Watch

Tanjong Pagar United: Aurelien Herisson

The goalkeeper certainly would have certainly gone home with the match ball in the semi-final encounter with Hougang United, having saved a number of penalties after the game ended goalless.

The custodian has only conceded one goal en-route to the final, adding on to the two he conceded in the final. With such impressive statistics, Herisson would be keen in keeping a clean sheet against Home.

Home United: Sirina Camara

With Tanjong Pagar’s right-back Ruzaini Zainal suspended for the game, Camara may have the whole left side of the field for himself as there are not many players who have the ability to deny the French in his marauding runs and pin-point crosses.

Also do keep a lookout for his strength and his free-kick abilities, which means the Jaguars would have to be wary when it comes to winning challenges.

Tanjong Pagar United – LWWWW

25/7/14    Tanjong Pagar United 0-2 Brunei DPMM (StarHub League Cup Final)

21/7/14    Tanjong Pagar United (4P) 0-0 (2) Hougang United (StarHub League Cup SF)

18/7/14    Tanjong Pagar United (AET) 1-0 Warriors FC (StarHub League Cup QF)

13/7/14    Tanjong Pagar United 7-1 Police SA (StarHub League Cup Group A)

7/7/14      Tanjong Pagar United 4-0 Albirex Niigata (S) (StarHub League Cup Group A)

Home United – LWWWW

17/7/14    Home United 1-2 Hougang United (StarHub League Cup QF)

14/7/14    Home United 2-0 Singapore Recreation Club (StarHub League Cup Group C)

8/7/14      Woodlands Wellington 1-6 Home United (StarHub League Cup Group C)

3/7/14      Loyola Meralco Sparks FC (PHI) 1-2 Home United (RHB Singapore Cup QF 2nd Leg)

30/6/14    Home United 2-0 Loyola Meralco Sparks FC (PHI) (RHB Singapore Cup QF 1st Leg)

Head to Head (S.League)

17/4/14    Home United 4-0 Tanjong Pagar United

30/10/13  Tanjong Pagar United 0-1 Home United

27/6/13    Home United 1-1 Tanjong Pagar United

14/3/13    Tanjong Pagar United 0-3 Home United

18/10/12  Home United 2-1 Tanjong Pagar United

28/4/12    Tanjong Pagar United 1-0 Home United

15/9/11    Tanjong Pagar United 0-3 Home United

27/5/11    Home United 3-1 Tanjong Pagar United

18/3/11    Tanjong Pagar United 0-6 Home United