Lion City Sailors’ Hami Syahin in action against BG Tampines Rovers’ Faris Ramli, 6 December 2023.
SINGAPORE, 17 July 2024 – The action comes thick and fast as Matchweek 9 of the Singapore Premier League is upon us and serves up some weeknight football action.
The matchweek is headlined by Thursday night’s huge top of the table clash between Lion City Sailors and BG Tampines Rovers at the Bishan Stadium. Elsewhere, Albirex Niigata (S) welcomes Balestier Khalsa to the Jurong East Stadium in Coach Keiji Shigetomi’s first game back in charge of the White Swans after the departure of Kazuaki Yoshinaga.
The action continues on Friday evening as Geylang International returns to league action with a clash against Tanjong Pagar United at the Jalan Besar Stadium while Hougang United becomes the second visitors to the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium this season as they face hosts Brunei DPMM.
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White Swans and Tigers aiming to bounce back
Albirex Niigata (S) vs Balestier Khalsa | 18 July | 7:45pm | Jurong East Stadium| Singtel Ch 112, StarHub Ch HS2
Team News for Albirex Niigata (S): All players are fit for the match
Team News for Balestier Khalsa: Mukundan Maran and Syukri Noorhaizam are unavailable due to injury
- Keiji Shigetomi will lead the White Swans as Head Coach in this match, marking his second stint with the team as they welcome Balestier Khalsa to Jurong East Stadium.
- The home side has suffered five defeats in a row and find themselves in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the league table.
- Balestier has fond recent memories of the Jurong East Stadium after they defeated Tanjong Pagar United earlier in the season with a 5-0 scoreline.
- Both sides will be eager to achieve a positive result after suffering defeat in their respective matches the previous week.
Balestier Khalsa’s Madhu Mohana in action against Lion City Sailors, 13 July 2024.
BLOCKBUSTER Top of the Table Clash
Lion City Sailors vs BG Tampines Rovers | 18 July | 7:45pm | Bishan Stadium | Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch HS2
Team News for Lion City Sailors: Bart Ramselaar is an injury doubt for the game
Team News for BG Tampines Rovers: No injuries or suspensions
- The top two teams of the SPL face off in the Match of the Week of Matchweek 9.
- Tampines forward Boris Kopitovic is 3 goals from equalling Aleksandar Duric’s tally of 105 goals for the club.
- Maxime Lestienne aims to score in his seventh consecutive league match, surpassing his personal best scoring record with the Sailors.
- With just a slim goal difference separating them, both sides are determined to secure maximum points and distance themselves from their closest challengers.
Lion City Sailors’s Lennart Thy in action against Balestier Khalsa, 13 July 2024.
DPMM seeking home comforts
Brunei DPMM vs Hougang United | 19 July | 8:15pm | Bandar Seri Begawan| Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch HS2
Team News for Brunei DPMM: James McAllister will take charge of his first game for DPMM
Team News for Hougang United: No injuries or suspensions to the team
- Brunei DPMM hosts only their second home match in Bandar Seri Begawan as they welcome Hougang United on Friday night.
- James McAllister steps in for his first taste of SPL action as he takes charge of the Bruneian side.
- Hougang are still chasing for their first win of the SPL 2024/25 season.
- The last time the two sides met was in December 2023 when Hougang ran out 2-0 winners.
Brunei DPMM’s Miguel Oliveira in action against BG Tampines Rovers, 13 July 2024.
Eagles looking to close the gap with the leaders
Geylang International vs Tanjong Pagar United | 19 July | 7:45pm | Jalan Besar Stadium| Singtel Ch 111, StarHub Ch HS2
Team News for Geylang International: Sora Tanaka has returned to Japan after the end of his loan deal
Team News for Tanjong Pagar United: Farid Jafiri and Syed Akmal are suspended
- Geylang International returns to SPL action after a bye in Matchweek 8 and will face a resurgent Tanjong Pagar United on Friday night at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
- The Eagles are the league’s top scorers and will be aiming to score against a Jaguars side that has yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
- Any positive result will lift the Jaguars above the Young Lions, who are not in action this match week.
- Tomoyuki Doi will look to extend his tally of 12 goals as he remains at the top of the scoring chart.
Tanjong Pagar United players celebrating a goal against Albirex Niigata (S), 12 July 2024.
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