StarHub League Cup Group C

Woodlands Wellington vs Home United

(July 8, Tuesday, 8.00pm, Woodlands Stadium)

Written by: Muhammad Yazid

The Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League season takes a short break as it makes way for the StarHub League Cup – the only local Cup competition which involves a group stage. In Group C, Woodlands Wellington welcome Home United at the Woodlands Stadium.

With four groups in the first round, two out of three teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.

The four cellar-dwellers from each group, however, can still keep their heads high as they will have the ‘plate championship’ to play for.

The other team from Group C is Singapore Recreation Club, a team from NFL (National Football League).

Woodlands are relishing the honours of being the first ever winners of the League Cup, as they lifted the trophy in 2007. This is their only silverware till date, which was achieved under the reigns of current Geylang International coach Jorg Steinebrunner.

Woodlands went on a fantastic run in that tournament, which concluded in a 4-0 thrashing over Sengkang Punggol (now known as Hougang United) in the finals.

However, Woodlands’ performance in this competition has not been not up to par in the following years, as they struggled to make it into the top four except for in 2009, 2010 and 2013 (last year).

The Rams were the runners-up in 2010 as they lost out 3-1 to Etoile FC in the finals and that has been the closest they have ever been ever since their triumph in 2007.

Home on the other hand have not stepped into the finals of the League Cup before, but have made it to the top four three times in seven years.

They were second runners-up in 2009, and third runners-up in 2007 and 2011.

The Protectors will be keen in kick-starting this competition on a good note, as they are looking to go as far as possible.

Lee Lim Saeng’s side are chasing the league title and have entered the semi-finals in the Singapore Cup, so their quality speaks for itself and there should not be any reason for them to get knocked out early in the League Cup.

A high-scoring match may be expected, considering the kind of threat both teams pose upfront.

Moon Soon Ho, Chang Jo Yoon and Goh Swee Swee will be leading the lines in attack with the midfield support from Atsushi Shimono for Woodlands, while Fazrul Nawaz and Qiu Li should feature at the other end of the pitch, receiving the necessary services from Bruno Castanheira and Lee Kwon Woo.

Woodlands Wellington – LDWLL

1/7/13         Woodlands Wellington 1-3 Courts Young Lions

24/6/14       Home United 0-0 Woodlands Wellington

20/6/14       Woodlands Wellington 0-0 Warriors FC

11/6/14       Albirex Niigata (S) 7-1 Woodlands Wellington

7/6/14         Woodlands Wellington 0-2 Tanjong Pagar United

Home United – WWDLL

3/7/14         Loyola Meralco Sparks (PHI) 1-2 Home United (RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Finals Second Leg)

30/6/14       Home United 2-0 Loyola Meralco Sparks (PHI) (RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Finals First Leg)

23/6/14       Home United 0-0 Woodlands Wellington

20/6/14       Balestier Khalsa 3- Home United

13/6/14       Hougang United 3-1 Home United