Warriors FC vs Tanjong Pagar United

(June 23, Monday, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)

Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Title-chasers Warriors FC will be looking to snap a three-match winless streak in the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League when they take on Tanjong Pagar United on Monday evening.

Their last win over the Jaguars stretched back to 2012 when they saw off the 2013 RHB Singapore Cup finalists 3-1 under former coach Richard Bok.

Warriors will receive a timely-boost for the tie as they welcome the return of Miroslav Pejic from suspension. The Croatian has netted 10 times for the eight-time S.League champions this campaign.

But Pejic will not find it easy going up against Tanjong Pagar’s captain Hafiz Osman and Anthony Aymard who, barring any injury concerns, on their day are difficult to penetrate.

Although the Jaguars are at the bottom half of the table, it has not been an easy start for coach Patrick Vallee as he missed several key players through injuries at the start of the season.

While the Jaguars have been quiet in the mid-season transfer window, Alex Weaver has wasted no time in snapping up ex-internationals Ismail Yunos and Agu Casmir from Home United and Persebaya Surabaya respectively. With a long term injury to right-back Jeremy Chiang, Ismail will slot in perfectly into the right-back position.

The two sides played up end-to-end attacking football when they met earlier in the season, which ended in a draw. Fans can expect both clubs to serve up a similar exhilarating and entertaining action on the field this time around too.

A win for the Warriors will see them rise up to second, overcoming Tampines Rovers, who will have a game in hand.

Key Men To Watch

Warriors FC: Nicholas Velez

The Argentine almost got into the scoresheet a couple of times in the game against Woodlands Wellington.

Currently relishing as Warriors’ top scorer with 12 goals, Velez would be looking to increase his goal tally and lift Warriors to third place.

In the game against Hougang United, 59% of his passes were accurate while he made 67% of successful dribbles.

Tanjong Pagar United: Monsef Zerka

The target man was left on the bench in the last game against Albirex Niigata (S) but was named a super-sub after coming on in the second half and claiming a consolation.

Zerka would most probably be starting in the game against Warriors FC and defenders Ismail Yunos and Marin Vidosevic would have to keep an eye on the deadly forward.

Warriors FC – LDLWL

20/6/14    Woodlands Wellington 1-0 Warriors FC

12/6/14    Warriors FC 1-1 Balestier Khalsa

8/6/14        Hougang United 3-2 Warriors FC

5/6/14        Harimau Muda 2-4 Warriors FC

27/5/14    Warriors FC 1-3 Balestier Khalsa (RHB Singapore Cup)

Tanjong Pagar United – LWWLW

18/6/14    Tanjong Pagar United 1-2 Albirex Niigata (S)

12/6/14    Tanjong Pagar United 3-0 Courts Young Lions

7/6/14        Woodlands Wellington 0-2 Tanjong Pagar United

4/6/14        Tanjong Pagar United 0-3 Balestier Khalsa

26/5/14    Tanjong Pagar United 1-0 Hougang United (RHB Singapore Cup)

Head to Head (S.League)

10/4/14    Tanjong Pagar United 1-1 Warriors FC

18/5/13    Tanjong Pagar United 2-1 Warriors FC

27/2/13    Warriors FC 1-6 Tanjong Pagar United

24/8/12    Warriors FC 0-1 Tanjong Pagar United

23/3/12    Tanjong Pagar United 1-3 Warriors FC

11/8/11    Warriors FC 4-0 Tanjong Pagar United

11/5/11    Tanjong Pagar United 2-2 Warriors FC

23/2/11    Warriors FC 2-1 Tanjong Pagar United