Home United vs Tampines Rovers

(May 18, Sunday, 7.30pm, Bishan Stadium)

Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Home United host Tampines Rovers at Bishan Stadium in a repeat of the season-opening Charity Shield, which also doubled up as a league clash then.

When the two teams met in February, Tampines walked away with all three points thanks to Miljan Mrdakovic’s strike in a 1-0 win.

However, things have changed for the Stags since then.

Head coach Salim Moin has resigned and in his place is Rafi Ali who has been tasked to lead the team on an interim basis until a replacement is found.

Winless in five matches, they have been dumped out of the AFC Cup and have moved two spots down the table.

The Stags’ title hopes are in the process of getting severely diminished if they continue their poor form.

Brunei DPMM’s latest 2-1 win over Albirex Niigata (S) places them at the top of the table, and a win for Tampines will reduce the gap to seven points while a win for Home will reduce their gap to eight points.

The Protectors on the other hand have improved since that first game and even went on an eight-game unbeaten run, which saw them won six straight games.

While Home come into this game on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Courts Young Lions, their attacking prowess cannot be looked down upon, as exemplified by their 4-1 trouncing of title contenders Warriors FC in the game before.

Since his return from injury, Fazrul Nawaz has hit a purple patch and he is one Tampines have to keep a lookout for.

Suspension: Noh Rahman

Key Men To Watch

Home United: Fazrul Nawaz

Currently Home United’s top-scorer together with Bruno Castanheira, Fazrul has bagged four league goals ever since he came back from an injury.

The former national striker has been the target man for the Protectors and his telepathic understanding with midfielders like Bruno and Qiu Li can bang in the goals for Home.

According to InStat, Fazrul has won more than half of his challenges he had in the air with opposing defenders in the games he has played this season so far.

Tampines Rovers: Shahdan Sulaiman

The former LionsXII player’s vision from the middle of the park can easily catch out strikers like Fazrul, and wingers like Yasir Hanapi and Bruno.

Shahdan has also successfully completed 80% of his passes accurately in the games of this season so far.

His ability to break defences apart with his through passing ability would be something the Home defence has to be wary about.

Home United – DWLWW

7/5/14     Courts Young Lions 1-1 Home United

2/5/14     Warriors FC 1-4 Home United

27/4/14   Albirex Niigata (S) 4-2 Home United

23/4/14   Persipura Jayapura 0-2 Home United (AFC Cup)

17/4/14   Home United 4-0 Tanjong Pagar United

Tampines Rovers – DDDLL

8/5/14     Tampines Rovers 3-3 Warriors FC

1/5/14     Tampines Rovers 1-1 Albirex Niigata (S)

25/4/14   Tanjong Pagar United 1-1 Tampines Rovers

22/4/14   Tampines Rovers 0-1 Nay Pyi Taw (AFC Cup)

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

Head to Head (S.League)

21/2/14    Tampines Rovers 1-0 Home United

21/10/13  Home United 2-0 Tampines Rovers

14/7/13    Tampines Rovers 4-1 Home United

29/3/13    Home United 0-1 Tampines Rovers

30/8/12    Tampines Rovers 2-0 Home United

29/3/12    Home United 0-2 Tampines Rovers

23/11/11  Tampines Rovers 1-0 Home United

25/6/11    Home United 2-0 Tampines Rovers

1/4/11      Tampines Rovers 1-1 Home United