StarHub League Cup Group C

Woodlands Wellington vs Singapore Recreation Club (NFL)

(July 11, Friday, 8.00pm, Woodlands Stadium)

Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Just a few days after a hefty 6-1 defeat by the hands of Home United in the opening fixture of the StarHub League Cup Group C encounter, Woodlands Wellington welcome National Football League’s Division One team, Singapore Recreation Club to the Woodlands Stadium on Friday night.

In the three-team group, the Rams are currently in the last position while the Protectors are flying high at the top.

Yet to play their first game, SRC’s outcome of this game will give a fair indication of how the standings will look like at the end of the group stages.

Another loss for Woodlands will see them get knocked out in the group stages, leaving them with only the plate semi-finals to participate in, while a win for them would mean that they would qualify to the next round, if Home does not fail to overcome SRC in the final game.

In last year’s League Cup group stage game with NFL’s Admiralty FC, the Rams were trailing by two goals at half-time before they came back in the second half, credit to a goal by Oswind Surya and a brace by Chang Jo Yoon to win the game 3-2.

Salim Moin would not be hoping for history to repeat against this NFL side, and he would want his team to claim a comfortable and straight-forward win this time round.

“If we do not win against SRC, I would not know what to say about my team,” the confident Salim said.

“My players have to understand that they have to prove their worth when given a chance to perform.”

On the other hand, SRC are in the fifth position of the eight-team NFL Division One table and have the best defensive record in the league, as they have only conceded seven goals in seven games.

One should not completely write-off the chances of SRC as they have players who are no amateurs in the football scene.

Former S.League players Ali Imran Lomri, Shamsurin Rahman and Nawfal Shahib are three players who have donned the Woodlands colours in their prime, and are now in the centre stage of NFL.

Ali Imran was also a former Singapore International, as he has had 12 caps for the nation. Having played for Balestier Khalsa, Home United, Warriors, Hougang United and Woodlands Wellington, the left-sided player is no stranger to the S.League.

The 38-year-old would be using that expertise of his to guide the team towards a decent performance against his ex-club.

Suspensions: Milos Jevtic and Walid Lounis (Woodlands Wellington), Faliq Sudhir (SRC)

Woodlands Wellington – LLDWL

8/7/14         Woodlands Wellington 1-6 Home United

1/7/14         Woodlands Wellington 1-3 Courts Young Lions

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

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

11/6/14       Albirex Niigata (S) 7-1 Woodlands Wellington

Singapore Recreation Club (NFL) – DWLWL

22/6/14       Singapore Recreation Club 0-0 Singapore Cricket Club

15/6/14       Tiong Bahru Football Club 1-2 Singapore Recreation Club

8/6/14         Singapore Recreation Club 0-3 Sporting Westlake Football Club

1/6/14         Admiralty Football Club 0-2 Singapore Recreation Club

25/5/14       Singapore Recreation Club 0-1 Eunos Crescent Football Club