Woodlands Wellington vs Hougang United

(May 15, Thursday, 7.30pm, Woodlands Stadium)

Written by: Phoon Jia Hui

Hougang United travel to Woodlands Stadium to face Woodlands Wellington in what should be a tight match.

The two teams met in the opening fixture of the season and that game ended 2-2, with Hougang arguably the unluckier of the two to not walk away with three points then.

Eleven games on, both teams are separated by six points in the league as the Cheetahs sit comfortably in sixth while Woodlands find themselves three spots below.

A win for either team will do them a world of good with Hougang seeking to keep themselves within touching distance of Albirex Niigata (S) while Woodlands will want the three points to pull further away from teams like Tanjong Pagar United and the much-improved Courts Young Lions who are breathing down their neck.

Both teams have a tendency to go against the odds, as exemplified by their wins over reigning champions Tampines Rovers.

It will be a case of Darren Stewart’s tactical prowess on display again, as he looks to stifle Geison Moura and Diego Gama who will lead the frontline for the Cheetahs.

Moura netted the winner in their last game on Thursday when they beat Balestier Khalsa 2-1 as he made it nine goals for the season, two shy of current leading scorer Rodrigo Tosi of Brunei DPMM and Woodlands have to keep a tight leash on him if they are to stand any chance of victory.

Woodlands too will be able to provide a sort of threat up front as they boast their own strikeforce duo of Moon Soon Ho and Chang Jo Yoon although they have blown hot and cold this season, and they are unable to be on their best this day, Hougang might just walk away with all three points.

The Rams however will have to make do without defender Walid Lounis again as he serves the final match of his two-match suspension.

Suspension: Walid Lounis (Woodlands)

Key Men To Watch

Woodlands Wellington: Andy Ahmad

Virtually an unknown to most before this season, Andy has started in all of Woodlands’ eleven games played so far and put in a good shift whenever called upon.

A forward in his early playing days, he has been converted into a right-back by Darren Stewart, although an attacking one. Apart from performing his defensive duties, he possesses pace and attacking vision which gives him the edge when going forward as he makes overlapping runs to support the attack.

Hougang United: Geison Moura

Arguably one of the more consistent performers in the Hougang team, Moura is proving to be a hit having scored nine goals from the 11 league games played so far.

Despite his slightly scrawny frame, he makes it up with his close control on the ball as well as his off-the-ball movement which makes it hard for defenders to pick him up, as evidenced in the Young Lions defeat where he was successful in the four dribbles he attempted.

Woodlands Wellington – LLDWL

7/5/14      Harimau Muda 1-0 Woodlands Wellington

30/4/14    Woodlands Wellington 0-2 Brunei DPMM

26/4/14    Geylang International 1-1 Woodlands Wellington

18/4/14    Tampines Rovers 1-2 Woodlands Wellington

13/4/14    Woodlands Wellington 0-3 Home United

Hougang United – WLWLL

9/5/14      Hougang United 2-1 Balestier Khalsa

2/5/14      Hougang United 0-3 Courts Young Lions

24/4/14    Harimau Muda 3-4 Hougang United

16/4/14    Hougang United 0-1 Brunei DPMM

11/4/14    Geylang International 3-2 Hougang United

5/4/14      Hougang United 4-2 Tampines Rovers

Head to Head (S.League)

22/2/14    Hougang United 2-2 Woodlands Wellington

26/6/13    Hougang United 0-1 Woodlands Wellington

15/3/13    Woodlands Wellington 0-0 Hougang United

1/9/12      Hougang United 2-2 Woodlands Wellington

30/3/12    Woodlands Wellington 1-3 Hougang United

15/7/11    Hougang United 2-3 Woodlands Wellington

5/5/11      Woodlands Wellington 1-4 Hougang United