Match Preview: Harimua Muda vs Hougang

By www.hgfc.com.sg

Match Day: Friday, 27th April 2012
Venue: Yishun Stadium, 7.45pm kick-off
Tickets: $5.00 (Adult), $ 1.00 (Student)

Hougang faithfuls might be looking forward to the most pulsating game for this season, facing their rivals from across the Causeway, Harimau Muda.

Harimau Muda is currently playing their first season in the S-League, after an agreement signed by the FAS and the Football Association of Malaysia, which saw the creation of Lions XII.

While the Lions XII in the Malaysian Super League boost the likes of our well-known former S-League main stayers and established Singapore internationals, Harimau Muda is mostly made up of players who have played together through the age ranks and are still considered an U-21 team.

Most of them have already appeared for the full Malaysian National squads. Captain Mahali Jasuli, Fadhli Shas, goalkeeper Izham Tarmizi and Thamil Arasu was in the squad when our Singapore National Team beat the Malaysians in the World Cup Qualifiers in July 2011. Apart from that, Fadhli Shas, alongside with current team mates Izwan Fazail and Wan Zack, had a three-month stint playing in Slovakia for FC ViON Zlate Moravce.

The Cheetahs will have their biggest challenge so far this season. The Young Tiger’s top marksman this season, Gary Robbat will be looking forward to lock horns with Ante Barac and Azhar Sairudin. Apart from that, the Young Tigers have a set-piece specialist in Wan Zack Haikal, who has scored six from set-pieces so far this season.

The Cheetahs have been unlucky in their last four games after dominating most of the games. Coach Nenad Bacina will have to address the team’s concern in conceding late goals and apart from that, another of his concerns have been not clinical enough to finish their attacks in goals.

Although this is Harimau Muda’s swansong in the S-League, the two teams met in the preliminary round of last season’s Singapore Cup. A 35-yard screamer from Mamadou Diallo settled the tie in extra time, after a wonderful display by their predecessors. Although much has changed in the Harimau Muda line-up, however, they have won the neutral supporters’ hearts with their dogged display. Hougang will have to toil hard to grind up a result in Yishun this Friday.

Come on Hougang! NO Surrender! (SOURCE)