Written by: Shawn Lim
Tampines Rovers vs Garena Young Lions
(Tuesday, 14 June, 8pm, Jurong West Stadium)
Experience will meet youth when Tampines Rovers welcome Garena Young Lions to the Jurong West Stadium on Tuesday night, with the Stags looking to continue their charge for the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League title.
Newly-installed Stags coach Akbar Nawas promised to go on the offensive after taking over the reigns of the team and Tampines did just that, slamming four goals past defending champions Brunei DPMM the last time out.
The focus on attacking football though, has come with its drawbacks as the Stags’ defensive facilities were exposed by the Wasps, who managed to find the net three times and almost snatched a point.
Tampines will most likely adopt a similar approach against the Young Lions, but will do well to ensure that things are tight at the back, as the visitors have shown that they are starting to click well upfront.
The return of veteran striker Khairul Amri has played a large part in helping the Young Lions look dangerous up front, as his presence and trickery caused all sorts of problems for Home United last week.
Amri was in imperious form against the Protectors, forcing their backline to make uncharacteristic mistakes, allowing him to score his second goal of the season, as well as pick up an assist.
The oldest player in the youthful squad, Amri’s experience on the field has helped the likes of Joshua Bernard Pereira, Hazim Faiz and Firdaus Kasman to play their best football to date.
The Stags will continue to miss Shahdan Sulaiman through a long-term injury, but will welcome back Izzdin Shafiq from suspension. As for the Young Lions, they will miss Firdaus through suspension.
Suspension: Firdaus Kasman (Garena Young Lions)
Tampines Rovers – WLDWW
11/06/16 Tampines Rovers 4-3 Brunei DPMM (S.League)
24/05/16 Mohun Bagan 1-2 Tampines Rovers (AFC Cup)
17/05/16 Warriors FC 0-0 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
13/05/16 Tampines Rovers 1-2 Home United (S.League)
10/05/16 Tampines Rovers 1-0 Selangor FA (AFC Cup)
Garena Young Lions – LWDLD
11/06/16 Garena Young Lions 2-2 Home United (S.League)
29/05/16 Ceres La Salle 3-1 Garena Young Lions (Singapore Cup)
19/05/16 Hougang United 1-1 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
12/05/16 Garena Young Lions 3-1 Warriors FC (S.League)
05/05/16 Geylang International 3-1 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
Head To Head (S.League)
03/04/16 Garena Young Lions 1-2 Tampines Rovers
27/09/15 Courts Young Lions 1-3 Tampines Rovers
19/09/15 Tampines Rovers 0-1 Courts Young Lions
05/03/14 Tampines Rovers 1-0 Courts Young Lions
23/05/14 Courts Young Lions 1-2 Tampines Rovers