| |
|
|
Second chance for victory
Gary Koh
info@sleague.com
A grab for all three points will not be far away from the minds of both sets of players when Geylang United entertain Albirex Niigata (Singapore) in their first home game of the season at Bedok Stadium on Wednesday.
Both teams had failed to secure victory in the opening round last week. The Eagles held league champions Singapore Armed Forces to a 1-1 away draw, while the White Swans were unfortunate to succumb 1-2 at home to Home United.
While a point against the AFC Champions League team was more than satisfactory, the Singapore Cup holders know they have plenty of work to do if they are not to suffer from another mediocre season.
Against a half-strength team and down to ten men for much of the second half, they produced a sound defensive performance and restricted their opponents to only a penalty goal.
They lacked the bite to pounce up front, though, and rarely troubled the Warriors for much of the night, save for the opening goal just before the break.
After such a lacklustre start on the road, their attackers will be crucial to coach Mike Wong’s plans if they are to begin their season at home on a winning note.
Slovakian forward Peter Tomko, who had a quiet night at Choa Chu Kang, and wingers Itimi Dickson and Syed Thaha are the Eagles who can unsettle the inexperienced but quick Japanese with their counterattacking game.
With Sevki Sha’ban still injured and Adrian Dhanaraj suspended for this match after receiving two yellows against his former club, Jonathan Xu could come in and partner Rastislav Belicak and Walid Lounis in the three-man central defence.
Albirex could count themselves very unlucky not to take any point after showing so much promise in the second half against the Protectors.
Their high-tempo attacking game troubled the visiting defence in sustained periods during their opener, but their failure to punish the mistakes made by Home cost them.
White Swans head coach Koichi Sugiyama is expected to retain the same starting eleven against the Eagles.
Key to his plans will be Ken Matsumoto. The Albirex No.10 had a lung-busting game in midfield and showed determination and grit to score the equalising goal late in the game.
Sugiyama will also be hoping the striker partnership of Nobuhiro Uetani and Yoshinobu Matsumura is able to gel better, after both had failed to make an impact in the previous game.
If the duo are able to improve on the chemistry up front, both between themselves and also with the rest of the team, Geylang are probably going to be in for a long night at Bedok. |
|
|