RHB Singapore Cup Quarter-Final First Leg

Home United vs Loyola Meralco Sparks FC (PHI)

(June 30, Monday, 8.00pm, Bishan Stadium)

Written by: Kenneth Ho

Singapore’s Home United will take on Loyola Meralco Sparks FC of the Philippines in what should prove to be an exciting affair, given the offense-orientation of both teams.

Until the 0-0 draw with Woodlands Wellington, Home have seen plenty of goals in its previous games.

Likewise, the Sparks have been scoring goals by the bucket in their own domestic league. To further cement this point, Loyola Meralco put seven goals past SHB Champasak in the last round of this competition.

Home come into this game on the back of a woeful form, with only one win in their last five games.

While Woodlands have impressed under the charge of Salim Moin who came into the side barely weeks ago, they were previously one of the whipping boys of the league and for Home to toil against them shows how disjointed the Protectors actually are right now as a unit.

As reigning champions of the RHB Singapore Cup, Home do have motivation of sorts to keep them going. But to defend their title they will come up against a fearsome Loyola Meralco attack.

Leading the frontline for the Sparks will be Graham Cayhill. The burly frontman loves to bully around defenders in an effort to get to the ball, and will be a handful for the likes of Sirina Camara to handle.

Supporting Cayhill from behind will be the brotherly duo of Phillips and James Younghusband. The duo are lively with the ball at their feet, and are deadly from distance with their mean shots often finding the mark and causing trouble for goalkeepers.

The Sparks however will have their work cut out for them too, as they have to contend with a holy quintet of Fazrul Nawaz, Qiu Li, Bruno Castanheira, Indra Sahdan and Lee Kwan Woo.

Each one of them are capable of finding holes in a defence, and possess clinical finishing as well. With Lee pulling the strings in midfield, it is hard to see chances not being created.

The Protectors are also dangerous from set-pieces, with Kwon Da Kyung having scored a few from them too.

As such, this game promises to be one for the neutrals and lots of goal-mouth actions should be in store.

Home United – DLLWW

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

20/6/14    Balestier Khalsa 3-0 Home United

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

10/6/14    Home United 3-1 Harimau Muda

6/6/14      Brunei DPMM 2-3 Home United

Loyola Meralco Sparks – WWLWW

26/6/14    Kaya FC 2-3 Loyola Meralco Sparks

17/6/14    Pasargard FC 0-5 Loyola Meralco Sparks

10/6/14    Stallions FC 3-1 Loyola Meralco Sparks

5/6/14      Loyola Meralco Sparks 3-2 Pachanga FC

1/6/14      Loyola Meralco Sparks 7-1 SHB Champasak (RHB S’pore Cup Preliminary Round)