Garena Young Lions vs Balestier Khalsa

(22 June, Thursday, 8.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Written by: Shawn Lim

Balestier Khalsa will pay Garena Young Lions a visit at Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday night in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League, where nothing but a win will do for head coach Marko Kraljevic.

The Tigers are currently languishing in seventh in the league table after only winning twice this season and the Toa Payoh-based club have also found goals to come by, finding the back of the net only five times so far.

Kraljevic is aware that this is a glorious opportunity to pick up all three points against the Young Lions – who are residing two spots below them – but is wary of the threat the hosts can pose.

“They might not be doing well, but it won’t be an easy game because they are young and they won’t stop running at you for the full 90 minutes,” explained the German-Croat.

“They have the home ground advantage too, because of the artificial pitch at Jalan Besar, so it will not be easy to play them on such a pitch.

“Therefore, we will need to go all out to play and beat them if we want all three points.”

Despite lamenting about his team’s lack of a proper striker, Kraljevic has decided against signing any players during the recent transfer window. However, the former striker believes that his team will find the back of the net against the Young Lions.

“We need to attack, we have no other choice if we want to move up the table, as we want to try to finish mid-table,” explained Kraljevic.

“I cannot reveal our tactical plans, but we will attack from the get-go tomorrow and try to score. We have no other choice.”

Kraljevic, who will be without experienced midfielder Raihan Rahman, who is suspended for the game, will look to the likes of Hanafi Akbar, Tajeli Salamat and Aung Kyaw Naing to lead the frontline for the Tigers.

Meanwhile, the Young Lions will see Richard Tardy take charge of his third game after the team parted ways with V. Selvaraj.

A bulk of the Young Lions side spent the international break in Doha, Qatar where they played twice against their much experienced Qatari counterparts and they will no doubt be keen to use that experience gained when they take on the Tigers.

Tardy will however be without captain and centre-back Shahrin Saberin, who is suspended for the game. Singaporean-born German Armin Maier has signed for the Young Lions and could be in line for a debut on Thursday night.

Suspensions: Shahrin Saberin (Garena Young Lions); Raihan Rahman (Balestier Khalsa)

Garena Young Lions – LLDLL

26/05/17 Albirex Niigata (S) 8-0 Garena Young Lions

21/05/17 Garena Young Lions 1-2 Home United

13/05/17 Garena Young Lions 0-0 Brunei DPMM

23/04/17 Tampines Rovers 1-0 Garena Young Lions

15/04/17 Garena Young Lions 0-2 Geylang International

 Balestier Khalsa – LLLLL

17/06/17 Tampines Rovers 3-1 Balestier Khalsa

01/06/17 Balestier Khalsa 3-4 Nagaworld FC (CAM) (RHB Singapore Cup)

26/05/17 Balestier Khalsa 0-1 Geylang International

19/05/17 Warriors FC 1-0 Balestier Khalsa

02/05/17 Home United 1-0 Balestier Khalsa

Head to Head (S.League)

02/04/17 Balestier Khalsa 1-0 Garena Young Lions

05/08/16 Garena Young Lions 1-3 Balestier Khalsa

21/04/16 Balestier Khalsa 2-0 Garena Young Lions

14/02/16 Garena Young Lions 1-0 Balestier Khalsa

19/10/15 Balestier Khalsa 1-0 Garena Young Lions