Written by: Shawn Lim

Harimau Muda vs Geylang International

(Friday, 16 October, 8pm, Hang Jebat Stadium)

Harimau Muda will welcome Geylang International to Hang Jebat Stadium on Friday night, eager to put an end to their winless run.

The Young Tigers have not tasted victory since August, when they beat Warriors at Choa Chu Kang Stadium and have lost three of their past five games.

Razip Ismail will be keen to ensure that his charges stick to the game plan, having watch them capitulate after conceding early goals in recent matches.

“Everything before the game went right, during training and pre-match, so I thought we would have a good game.” the Malaysian said after his side’s most recent defeat to Balestier Khalsa.

“The players’ morale really dropped after conceding the first goal and they stopped following the game plan after that.”

As for the Eagles, their bid to climb out of the bottom of the Great Eastern Yeo’s S.League table received a big shot in the arm after a morale-boosting 3-2 victory over the Courts Young Lions.

Bruno Castanheira was the hero for Geylang in that match, notching up a hat-trick to secure the Eagles’ first win since May.

Geylang coach Jorg Steinebrunner believes his side have turned the corner, but wants them to continue working hard.

“We cannot play 20 minutes good and then have five minutes with the foot off the gas pedal,” the German said after the victory against the Young Lions.

“In this league, it’s very competitive, and when you go five games without a point, it becomes more difficult.

“Every game you have to try and get a point. The win is good for us, we are in touching distance of Young Lions and Harimau Muda.”

A victory for the Young Tigers will see them continue to stay out of the bottom three while three points for the Eagles will see them move up from the foot of the table.

Suspensions: Adam Nor, Kenny Pallraj (Harimau Muda)

Key Player to Watch

Harimau Muda: Akhir Bahari

Since the absence of influential playmaker Adam Nor will surely be felt by the Young Tigers, they will need Akhir to step up and fill in the gap.

The midfielder is adept at the either playing out in the wings because of his accurate crossing or playing in the middle with his tendency to take long shots.

Geylang International: Bruno Castanheira

The Japanese striker was unplayable against the Young Lions, scoring two brilliant goals and causing all kind of problems with his pace.

Currently the club’s top scorer with six goals, Castanheira will need to reproduce the same kind of form if he wants to help the Eagles move out from the bottom of the table.

Harimau Muda – LLDDL

27/09/15  Harimau Muda 0-2 Balestier Khalsa (S.League)

22/09/15  Balestier Khalsa 0-0 Harimau Muda (S.League)

19/09/15  Harimau Muda 2-2 Warriors FC (S.League)

15/09/15  Tampines Rovers 5-1 Harimau Muda (S.League)

12/09/15  Brunei DPMM 2-0 Harimau Muda (S.League)

Geylang International – LLDDW

04/10/15  Courts Young Lions 2-3 Geylang International (S.League)

18/09/15  Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Geylang International (S.League)

29/08/15  Warriors FC 1-1 Geylang International (S.League)

20/08/15  Geylang International 1-3 Courts Young Lions (S.League)

16/08/15  Geylang International 1-4 (AET) Global FC (Singapore Cup)

Head-to-Head (S.League)

23/07/15  Geylang International 1-2 Harimau Muda

20/04/15  Harimau Muda 2-1 Geylang International

15/10/14  Harimau Muda 1-2 Geylang International

19/06/14  Geylang International 2-3 Harimau Muda

03/04/14  Harimau Muda 0-3 Geylang International