Written by: Koh Yizhe
Balestier Khalsa vs Warriors FC
(Thursday, 22 September, 7.30pm, Toa Payoh Stadium)
League positions will be on the line when the seventh-placed Warriors FC and eighth-placed Balestier Khalsa face off at the Toa Payoh Stadium as the S.League resumes following the international break.
Both teams have struggled throughout the season, duking it out at the bottom half of the table and trying to grind out results as much as they can. With not much on the line other than their pride, both teams will be aiming to collect as many points as possible to finish high up the table come October.
Warriors, fresh from snapping their seven-game winless streak against the Garena Young Lions before the international break, are currently seven points ahead of the Tigers despite playing a game more. That 5-2 victory against the national developmental side was certainly refreshing after Razif Onn’s men had struggled at both ends of the pitch over the last couple of months.
French striker Jonathan Behe grabbed a brace to keep his chances of a golden boot award on his debut season alive while Nikola Rak, Mohamed Syaqir and Hafiz Nor got in on the goals as well. It was the largest win of the season and they will certainly be keen to keep their momentum going towards the end of the season.
Against a team that is lower in position at the moment, morale would be high to deliver yet another positive result. Team manager Eugene Cheang has also confirmed coach Razif will have a full squad to select from with no suspensions or injuries.
For the Tigers, with 14 points from 19 outings, they are aware that three points at home against their direct rival above them will go a long way to finish in their best possible position. A win would bring them to within four points and overtaking the Warriors with four games remaining would not be out of the question.
It will not be easy, however, as they head into the match following back-to-back defeats. In particular, it was heart-break in their last match as they allowed Geylang International to come from behind to beat them 2-1 at the death. More significantly for this match would be the suspension of striker Zulkiffli Hassim who was sent off and banned for the rest of the year for indiscipline. Foreign striker Miroslav Kristic will have to start adding to his four-goal tally for his club should they hope to get a positive result in this match.
A pair of 1-1 draws were the results in previous two league meetings this season and with both teams are definitely evenly match, this encounter is shaping up to give fans a potential spectacle on Thursday.
Warriors FC – LLLLW
26/08/16 Warriors FC 5-2 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
19/08/16 Brunei DPMM 3-0 Warriors FC (S.League)
12/08/16 Warriors FC 2-3 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
04/08/16 Home United 3-0 Warriors FC (S.League)
25/07/16 Geylang International 1-0 Warriors FC (League Cup)
Balestier Khalsa – LDLWLL
25/08/16 Geylang International 2-1 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)
19/08/16 Balestier Khalsa 0-1 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)
05/08/16 Garena Young Lions 1-3 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)
22/07/16 Hougang United 2-1 Balestier Khalsa (League Cup)
21/07/16 Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Home United (League Cup)
Head to Head (S.League)
20/05/16 Warriors FC 1-1 Balestier Khalsa
11/03/16 Balestier Khalsa 1-1 Warriors FC
13/09/15 Warriors FC 4-2 Balestier Khalsa
07/05/15 Balestier Khalsa 1-2 Warriors FC
01/03/15 Warriors FC 1 – 0 Balestier Khalsa
