Albirex Niigata (S) vs Home United

(October 24, Friday, 7.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Home United will take on Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jalan Besar Stadium for a televised game, as the season approaches its end.

For the Protectors, the fight for the title has all but ended. Sitting in fifth place with an inferior goal difference behind Albirex even though both are on 41 points, it is now mathematically impossible for Home to overtake league leaders and bitter rivals, Warriors FC, who are top with 50 points, with two games left.

The good fight has ended, but Lee Lim Saeng will not be contented at ending the season in fifth spot and he will be pressing his charges to finish as high as they can in the league.

However, this will not be an easy game for the Protectors.

The White Swans still have a shot at the title, even though that would require them to win all their remaining three games and hope that other results go their way. Hence, Albirex will simply give their all to make sure they maintain their slim hopes of winning the title.

This season also has witnessed goal-galore whenever Home faced Albirex, with the last two encounters in the league between these two sides being 4-2 results.

Both teams have the firepower, so it may ultimately come down to which defence holds up its end of the bargain for the respective sides to walk away with a result.

In this aspect, neither seems to have an edge. Home have conceded 39 goals this season, while the White Swans have leaked in 37.

Key Men To Watch

Albirex Niigata (S): Kazuki Sakamoto

Being in the run for the top scorer award, Sakamoto would not only want to bag in as many goals as possible, but also help his team win the remaining three games.

Only two goals behind DPMM’s Rodrigo Tosi and one behind Warriors’ Nicholas Velez, the hot-shot will be gunning to add to the Protectors’ woes as well as his goal-tally.

Home United: Bruno Castanheira

The speedy left winger would be looking to pose a menace to his former employers’ defence to bring his team back to winning ways.

Known for his swift and effective cut-in’s, Albirex defenders would have to be aware of his antics.

Albirex Niigata (S) – LDWDL

6/10/14    Balestier Khalsa 2-0 Albirex Niigata (S)

17/9/14    Tampines Rovers 0-0 Albirex Niigata (S)

28/8/14    Geylang International 3-4 Albirex Niigata (S)

25/8/14    Albirex Niigata (S) 2-2 Tampines Rovers

21/8/14    Home United 4-2 Albirex Niigata (S)

Home United – LLWDW

17/10/14  Home United 2-3 Warriors FC

2/10/14    Home United 0-1 Tampines Rovers

26/9/14    Brunei DPMM 2-3 Home United (RHB Singapore Cup SF 2nd Leg; 3-4 on aggregate)

23/9/14    Home United 1-1 Brunei DPMM (RHB Singapore Cup SF 1st Leg)

17/9/14    Brunei DPMM 1-2 Home United

Head to Head (S.League)

21/8/14    Home United 4-2 Albirex Niigata (S)

27/4/14    Albirex Niigata (S) 4-2 Home United

4/11/13    Home United 3-1 Albirex Niigata (S)

17/5/13    Home United 1-0 Albirex Niigata (S)

1/3/13      Albirex Niigata (S) 2-1 Home United

23/8/12    Albirex Niigata (S) 0-0 Home United

25/3/12    Home United 4-2 Albirex Niigata (S)

10/9/11    Home United 0-4 Albirex Niigata (S)

21/5/11    Albirex Niigata (S) 2-1 Home United

13/3/11    Home United 2-1 Albirex Niigata (S)