Written By: Kenneth Ho
Hougang United vs Harimau Muda
(Friday, 6 Nov, 7:30pm, Hougang Stadium)
Hougang United will host bogey team Harimau Muda at the Hougang Stadium once again this season and hope that it will be a straightforward victory for them.
Facing the Young Tigers has never been an easy fixture for the Cheetahs, with only two wins coming in their last five meetings.
Stuck at the bottom of the S.League table, Hougang will be hoping they can overtake Geylang International by grabbing their first win in seven games.
Coincidentally, the last time Hougang won a game was against Harimau Muda – a 1-0 win at the Hang Jebat Stadium three months ago.
However, Harimau Muda will not be easy opponents to face, given the form they are in right now. The Young Tigers have only suffered one defeat in their last five games, and are boosted by a 1-0 win over Home United.
Part of that reason boils down to Harimau’s superb defensive display of late, where they have kept two clean sheets in their last five games.
With it helping the Young Tigers churn out results, coach Razip Ismail revealed that he is set to continue with a defensive strategy in their last few games.
“The last four to three games, we can’t afford to lose points and we need to win and stay at where we are,” Razip added.
“We can’t finish below Courts Young Lions. That’s why I want us to win their last few matches.”
Suspensions: Fazli Jaffar (Hougang United), Muhaymin Salim (Hougang United), Ashmawi Yakin (Harimau Muda)
Key Men To Watch
Hougang United: Fareez Farhan
With Fazli Jaffar and Muhaymin Salim out due to suspension, Fareez is likely to step in and play some part in this game.
A silky forward who has sparkled in glimpses this season, Fareez has a chance to prove why he is capable of a starting spot for the last few games of the season.
Harimau Muda: Faizat Ghazali
The forward missed Harimau Muda’s last game against Home United but could be in line for a return against Hougang.
A source of goal for the Young Tigers, Faizat will surely be a threat to Hougang’s hopes of earning their first win in seven games.
Hougang United – DLLLD
01/11/15 Hougang United 1-1 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)
26/10/15 Warriors FC 2-0 Hougang United (S.League)
20/10/15 Hougang United 1-2 Brunei DPMM (S.League)
17/10/15 Tampines Rovers 1-0 Hougang United (S.League)
01/10/15 Hougang United 2-2 Courts Young Lions (S.League)
Harimau Muda – WDLDW
02/11/15 Harimau Muda 1-0 Home United (S.League)
27/10/15 Courts Young Lions 1-1 Harimau Muda (S.League)
23/10/15 Harimau Muda 0-2 Brunei DPMM (S.League)
19/10/15 Harimau Muda 1-1 Albirex Niigata (S) (S.League)
16/10/15 Harimau Muda 2-0 Geylang International (S.League)
Head to Head (S.League)
19/08/14 Harimau Muda 0-1 Hougang United
23/04/15 Hougang United 3-3 Harimau Muda
04/10/14 Hougang United 0-1 Harimau Muda
02/09/14 Hougang United 1-2 Harimau Muda
24/04/14 Harimau Muda 3-4 Hougang United
