Courts Young Lions vs Woodlands Wellington

(March 13, Thursday, 7.30pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

Written by: Muhammad Yazid

Courts Young Lions will be hoping to put on a brave fight and go on the search for their first point in the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League campaign when they welcome an unbeaten Woodlands Wellington side at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday .

Aide Iskandar’s side got their season off to a losing start as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing by Balestier Khalsa in the season opener.

Things then seemed to improve when they nearly snatched a point off reigning champions Tampines Rovers in the following game but the developmental squad were denied any as Miljan Mrdakovic struck late to seal the points for the Stags in a 3-2 win.

Despite the defeat, certain statistics would have definitely pleased Aide. The Young Lions achieved 70% of accurate passes and pulled off a total of 12 shots against a star-studded Tampines side, according to InStats.

Darren Stewart’s side were rather fortunate to return home with a point against Hougang United in their opening game when they equalised twice to get back into the game in a 2-2 draw.

However, many will refer to Woodlands as the unlucky side when they were held by Balestier Khalsa in a 1-1 draw, especially when the Rams were displaying a fabulous show of football which was capped by Chang Jo Yoon’s wonderful curler.

InStats has also shown that the northern side had won 55% of their defensive challenges in the game against the Tigers, to demonstrate their defensive prowess.

With Moon Soon Ho and Chang sharing a goal each in the scoring charts, would the Korean duo pose much of a threat to the Young Lions defence and even grab a goal each?

Key Men To Watch

Courts Young Lions: Jordan Webb

Snapped up from Home United, Jordan Webb is certainly Courts Young Lions’ best signing in years.

The speedy winger joins his Canadian compatriot Sherif El-Masri at the club and the partnership between the two is expected to produce lots of goals and lift the Cubs from the root of the table.

Webb has made 57% of successful dribbles in the last game and his trickery will be one thing the Woodlands defenders have to be alert on.

Woodlands Wellington: Chang Jo Yoon

He kick-started his goal-scoring pursuit on a high note with a goal which went viral and Chang Jo Yoon believes it’s the start of many more. The South Korean has been a threat week in week out for every defender he has faced since last season and that does not seem to have deteriorated.

Converting 67% of his shots on target and 89% of his passes accurately, Chang will be looking to work with his telepathic partner Moon Soon Ho to grab more goals against Aide’s side as the Koreans share five goals among themselves just from last season’s battles with the Cubs.

Courts Young Lions – LLWWW

1/3/14        Tampines Rovers 3-2 Courts Young Lions

23/2/14    Courts Young Lions 0-4 Balestier Khalsa

5/11/13    Courts Young Lions 2-0 Hougang United

31/10/13    Courts Young Lions 2-1 Warriors

27/10/13    Harimau Muda 0-3 Courts Young Lions

Woodlands Wellington – DDLLL

28/2/14    Woodlands Wellington 1-1 Balestier Khalsa

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

4/11/13    Woodlands Wellington 3-6 Tampines Rovers

30/10/13      Balestier Khalsa 3-0 Woodlands Wellington

23/10/13         Albirex Niigata (S) 3-1 Woodlands Wellington

Head to Head (S.League)

16/7/13    Woodlands Wellington 5-2 Courts Young Lions

5/4/13        Courts Young Lions 1-3 Woodlands Wellington

15/6/12    Woodlands Wellington 1-2 Courts Young Lions

12/2/12    Courts Young Lions 0-1 Woodlands Wellington

15/10/11    Courts Young Lions 5-1 Woodlands Wellington