Written by: Shawn Lim
The New Paper League Cup (Group A)
Warriors FC vs Tampines Rovers
(Sunday, 17 July, 7.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)
Tampines Rovers can potentially secure their spot in the next round of The New Paper League Cup 2016 if they can defeat Warriors FC at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday night in their Group A clash.
The Stags opened their campaign with a resounding 6-4 defeat over Hougang United despite putting out a second-string side and are looking unstoppable at the moment.
However, with Tampines missing the likes of Izwan Mahbud, Yasir Hanapi, Hafiz Sujad, Izzdin Shafiq, Shakir Hamzah, Afiq Yunos and Fazrul Nawaz as they are away on international duties, coach Akbar Nawas is keen to take one game at a time.
“Playing with the players that we had, I don’t think I can ask for more. We definitely have more to do in footballing terms, because we struggled with transitions,” Akbar said after the win against the Cheetahs.
“But we are taking it one game at a time because we have so many players missing, so we have to be realistic.”
Tampines will miss Shahdan Sulaiman who has picked up another injury despite making a return against Hougang, while Sufian Anuar and Jermaine Pennant are doubtful for the game.
Meanwhile, Warriors suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Brunei DPMM in their opening game and will need to right the ship before they meet the Stags, if they want to stand a chance of progressing to the next round.
The nine-times Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League champions more than held their own against the Wasps in the first-half, but collapsed in the second-half after DPMM changed their tactics, leaving the Warriors defence confused.
Warriors will be without goalkeeper Yazid Yasin, who had to be substituted at half-time because of an injury, while main striker Jonathan Behe is injured, but could make a possible return.
However, the Choa Chu Kang-based club will welcome back veteran defenders Hafiz Osman and Shaiful Esah from suspension.
Warriors FC – LLWWL
13/07/16 Brunei DPMM 4-0 Warriors FC (League Cup)
23/06/16 Hougang United 1-3 Warriors FC (S.League)
15/06/16 Warriors FC 2-0 Geylang International (S.League)
10/06/16 Albirex Niigata (S) 3-2 Warriors FC (S.League)
27/05/16 Geylang International 2-1 Warriors FC (Singapore Cup)
Tampines Rovers – WWWWW
13/07/16 Tampines Rovers 6-4 Hougang United (League Cup)
02/07/16 Global FC 1-2 Tampines Rovers (Singapore Cup)
29/06/16 Tampines Rovers 3-1 Global FC (Singapore Cup)
24/06/16 Tampines Rovers 1-0 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)
17/06/16 Balestier Khalsa 2-3 Tampines Rovers (S.League)