Written by: Koh Yizhe

Home United vs Garena Young Lions
(Friday, 30 September, 7.30pm, Bishan Stadium)

Following a string of encouraging performances, the Garena Young Lions will be hoping for a positive result finally as they take on Home United at the Bishan Stadium on Friday’s Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League match.

The Garena Young Lions turned in decent performances in their last two matches, though they had little to show for it after 90 minutes. Against Hougang United last Friday, they dominated proceedings with their play in the final third just letting them down as they squandered many goal-scoring opportunities. Eventually, a goal from the visitors at either side of the half prove to be their undoing.

Then on Monday, when they traveled to Brunei, it looked like the match was over as a contest at half time as they went down 0-4. However, an inspirational and spirted performance saw a second-half turn around when they put three away goals into Brunei DPMM’s net and looked good for the fourth. Scoring the elusive equalizing goal to secure the comeback was beyond them though as they went down 5-3 in the eight-goal thriller.

Khairul Amri scored a brace on that occasion, finally showing why he is Singapore’s top striker. He will have to be firing on all cylinders once again as should they want to gather some points in their remaining two matches. The match against Home United will be their third in seven games and it would definitely have taken its toll on Patrick Hesses’ men.

And they will be up against a team who knows a thing or two about comebacks.

In their last match against the Garena Young Lions, Home United had to overcome a two-goal half-time deficit with Ken Ilso eventually snatching the draw and a part of the spoils at the death. Such resilience have been characteristic of the Protectors this season and they head into this one aiming to bounce back following a 1-3 defeat to Brunei DPMM.

Though a third-place finish is probably out of reach, Home United are still fighting to be the second best local side this season which means a shot at AFC Cup football next year. They currently trail fourth-place Hougang United by 3 points with four games remaining and while the outcome is very much out of their hands, they would be keen to collect as many points as possible to capitalize on any slip ups by the Cheetahs.

Both teams will not be held back by suspensions for this match.

Home United – LWLWL

23/09/16 Brunei DPMM 3-1 Home United (S.League)
10/09/16  Home United 1-0 Tampines Rovers (S.League)
12/08/16  Hougang United 4-2 Home United (S.League)
04/08/16  Home United 3-0 Warriors (S.League)
26/07/16  Brunei DPMM 1-0 Home United (League Cup)

Garena Young Lions – LLLLL

26/09/16 Brunei DPMM 5-3 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
23/09/16  Garena Young Lions 0-2 Hougang United (S.League)
26/08/16  Warriors FC 5-2 Garena Young Lions (S.League)
18/08/16  Garena Young Lions 0-2 Geylang International (S.League)
11/08/16  Albirex Niigata (S) 4-0 Garena Young Lions (S.League)

Head To Head (S.League)

11/06/16  Garena Young Lions 2-2 Home United

17/03/16  Home United 4-1 Garena Young Lions

15/11/15  Home United 2-1 Courts Young Lions

27/08/15  Courts Young Lions 0-2 Home United

28/04/15  Home United 0-1 Courts Young Lions