S-League Preview Week 13
Harimau Muda v Tampines Rovers
Yishun Stadium, 7.45 pm
Second-placed Harimau Muda will face defending champions Tampines Rovers, as they look to end the first half of their debut S-League season in touch with pace-setters Brunei DPMM, who have pulled six points clear of them at the moment.
At home, Ong Kim Swee will expect nothing less than three points from his charges. Despite losing players to international call-ups in the previous two weeks, the reserve players stepped up well as they won both matches during that period.
Wan Zack Haikal is the man in form for the Young Tigers and he will want to put in another good performance before he departs for trials in Japan. Apart from him, Gary Robbat has put in some commanding showings in the middle of the park, while youngster Nazmi Faiz has looked bright and lively in all his appearances.
Tampines snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Young Lions last time out, but will face stiff opposition here in building on that. Their attackers have not exactly fired on all cylinders and could find the going tough against the Harimau Muda, who possess the league’s meanest defence with only nine goals conceded so far.
Jamil Ali has been a bright spark in a decidedly mixed campaign so far for the Stags and they will look to him to get the goals alongside veteran striker Aleksandar Duric, who is always a threat with his height and power.
Harimau Muda last five games: LWLWW
Tampines last five games: WWLLW
Prediction: The fast, pacy Malaysians should have the edge here. Harimau Muda to come out on top in a tight affair; 2-1 to the home side.