SINGAPORE - What a difference two months can make. On March 3, Tampines Rovers and Hougang United lined up in a lip-smacking opener to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, touted as a clash between potential title rivals.
Tampines trotted off the pitch at the Jalan Besar Stadium with a handsome 5-1 win, aided by a red card to Hougang's Justin Hui, which preceded the Stags' four second-half goals.
Since then, however, the two teams have had contrasting fortunes in the SPL.
Hougang have won five of their seven games and currently sit second. Tampines, meanwhile, have not won any of their last four league matches and are fourth in the nine-team SPL.
As the teams prepare to meet again on Sunday (May 5) at Our Tampines Hub, Hougang are eager to prove that the first result between the two sides this season was one off.
"We all know Tampines are a good team, there's no denying that," said star attacker Faris Ramli, who has scored six SPL goals this season.
"But we all know the 5-1 scoreline did not reflect the game. We suffered a red card at 1-0 down and they made use of the extra player to score more.
Â
Â
"The fact we managed to equalise (to 1-1) with 10 men shows we have the quality to match them."
Tampines coach Gavin Lee was also keen to downplay the thrashing earlier this term.
"In terms of whether the scoreline reflected the quality of both teams, I think it didn't," said Lee.
"Both sides have good sets of players, but on that day and in that game, we were the better team and they didn't perform, and when those two factors come together, that (big win) can happen.
"Are we expecting a similar scoreline on Sunday? No. They'll definitely be fired up to prove the previous result was a fluke."
On Tampines' recent struggles in the league, Lee said the team's exertions in the AFC Cup - games usually take place in mid-week - have affected their consistency. Most recently, the Stags needed a last-minute goal to beat Myanmarese champions Yangon United, at Jalan Besar on Wednesday (May 1).
The 28-year-old acknowledged that the continental competition is "not easy physically" on his players as the matches are played at "an international tempo".
Lee added: "We've spoken about it as a team and we know it's part of the privilege of playing in a continental tournament... Whether (fatigue) will play a big part on Sunday, I don't know.
"But we've done our usual recovery protocols and hope the players are fresh, and physically and tactically ready."
Despite their good run of form, Hougang are looking to avoid a second loss on the trot, following their gutwrenching 3-2 defeat in injury time to league leaders Brunei DPMM last Sunday. The Cheetahs had led 2-1, and a win would have taken them top of the SPL.
"The loss was a hard pill to swallow, but we've addressed it as a team and we are in better spirits now," said Faris.
"This season, we have shown we have the mental strength to bounce back from our two (previous) losses by winning the next game both times, and we will have to do it again.
"We have shown we are capable of competing at the top of the SPL, so this is a game we definitely want to take three points from."
Soccer Extras: Late Ronaldo goal foils Torino May 04, 2019 10:08 IST Cristiano Ronaldo headed a late equaliser to deny Torino their first win away to neighbours Juventus for 24 years as the two
Late Ronaldo goal foils Torino - uk.sports.yahoo.com
A welcome could either cheer them up or make them leave the event and rather have cozy sleep at home. Martin Luther King, in 1943, delivered a speech "I have a dream" and that still doesn't fail to inspire people. Short Welcome Speech Samples To Address any Event. Image Source
How to Write a Welcome Aboard Letter With Examples
Zidane set for shock Real Madrid return. Zinedine Zidane will make a shock return as coach of Real Madrid after the club decided on Monday to sack Santiago Solari, say reports in the Spanish
Palatsides tipped for FAS technical director role, Football News & Top Stories - The Straits Times The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has cast its net far and wide for a new technical director and could well settle on someone from Down Under.
Director Fas Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com
Tottenham forward Son Heung-Min made his long-awaited debut at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, to help South Korea seal top spot in Group C with a 2-0 win over Marcello Lippi's China.
Son Heung-min helps South Korea beat China 2-0 at Asian Cup
LONDON • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists that he is focusing solely on his team and nobody else. Read more at straitstimes.com. Reds must play own game: Klopp, Football News & Top Stories
Reds need to focus on their own games - Klopp | ClubCall.com
Scoring an issue for Protectors despite first win Home United breathed life into their AFC Cup campaign after beating Lao Toyota 1-0 yesterday, but concerns linger over their ability to score. The win, courtesy of a header from defender Abdil Qaiyyim before 1,227 fans at Jalan Besar Stadium, saw the Protectors create enough chances to put the
2019 NBA Finals Odds: Raptors Slight Underdogs Despite Game 1
Son Heung-min's South Korea needed an extra-time winner to beat world ranked 113th Bahrain 2-1 as they stumbled into the Asian Cup quarterfinals in unconvincing fashion on Tuesday. Kim Jin-su's diving header at the end of the first extra period proved the difference as the two-time champions met
Korea survive Bahrain scare to reach quarters | Sports
Asian Cup Pressure comes with the territory, warns Japan skipper Maya Yoshida. Yoshida wants his young teammates to take advantage of the opportunity in the UAE to cement themselves in the Japan side.
SOCCER/ Pressure comes with the territory, warns captain Maya
The Rockets guard probably felt his mission was successful after the two-time NBA MVP went scoreless in the first half. the playoffs with a 118-113 road win. Hottest Rim Protectors.
Talking Points from the Bruins' 7-2 Game 3 win over the Blues
* Chelsea won 2-1 at Brighton to consolidate fourth place. Sign up to our news and offers. I consent that the Eurosport family of companies may provide me with news and marketing information about
Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot
Johhnny Murtagh rode Motivator again in the Derby, but only after successfully appealing a three-day riding ban which would have ruled him out of the race. Motivator was a well-supported 3/1 favourite for the Derby, ahead Gypsy King at 7/2 and Dubawi at 5/1.
If you're not motivated for Spurs, there's no point in
LONDON: Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday. Chris Hughton's side have been sucked into relegation danger in the Premier League after six games without a win.
Brighton Edge Past Derby County To Enter FA Cup Quarter
Last season, Conte was stubborn too. How could you sack Costa for Morata? Again, Bakayoko too was a flop. But he consistently used him. The teams had antidote to his 3 back formation taking advantage of Alonslow but he never changed.
0 comments:
Post a Comment