The S.League Virtual Championship Belt

S.League Virtual Championship (SLVC) 2010 Watch


Current Holder: Sengkang Punggol (1st title in 10 seasons over 13 years! Congrats!!)

Mini-League Leader: Tampines

Matches Played This Season: .. Mini-League Standings:
05-Feb Gombak... 0-1 Tampines. # Team---- P W-D-L Pts
16-Feb Albirex.. 1-3 Tampines. 1. Tampines 9 5-3-1 18
19-Feb Tampines. 1-1 SAFFC.... 2. Geylang- 7 4-2-1 14
09-Mar Tampines. 3-0 Y.Lions.. 3. Y.Lions-- 7 2-3-2 9
16-Mar Beijing.. 1-2 Tampines. 4. Gombak--- 5 2-1-2 7
22-Mar Tampines. 1-1 Etoile... 5. Sengkang- 4 2-1-1 7
31-Mar Woodlands 0-4 Tampines. 6. SAFFC---- 4 1-1-2 4
09-Apr Tampines. 0-0 Home..... 7. Etoile--- 2 1-1-0 4
24-Apr Tampines. 0-1 Geylang** 8. Beijing-- 4 1-0-3 3
03-May Albirex.. 1-2 Geylang.. 9. Home----- 1 0-1-0 1
07-May Geylang.. 0-0 Gombak... 10.Albirex-- 4 0-1-3 1
15-May Balestier 0-2 Geylang.. 11.Balestier 2 0-0-2 0
18-May Geylang.. 0-0 Y.Lions.. 12.Woodlands 1 0-0-1 0
22-May Beijing.. 0-1 Geylang.. ......................
01-Jun Geylang.. 0-3 SAFFC..** ......................
04-Jun SAFFC.... 0-1 Gombak.** ......................
07-Jun Gombak... 1-1 Albirex.. ......................
10-Jun Y.Lions.. 1-0 Gombak.** ......................
17-Jun Y.Lions.. 1-0 SAFFC.... ......................
25-Jun Y.Lions.. 1-1 Albirex.. ......................
29-Jun Sengkang. 2-2 Y.Lions.. ......................
08-Jul Beijing.. 1-0 Y.Lions** ......................
18-Jul Sengkang. 1-0 Beijing.. ......................
23-Jul Sengkang. 1-0 Balestier ......................
27-Jul Etoile... 1-0 Sengkang. ......................
05-Aug Etoile... ?-? Woodlands ......................

** Title changed hands

2010 Combined Table of Domestic Competitions, as at 7-Mar (after League Cup Final)

# Team----- P W-D-L F-A P- GD
-----------------------------
1 Etoile-- 6 5-1-0 12-5 16 +7
2 Sengkang 7 4-1-2 13-9 13 +4
-----------------------------
3 Tampines-- 4 2-1-1 5-3 7 +2
4 Gombak---- 6 2-1-3 7-8 7 -1
5 Woodlands- 6 1-4-1 6-7 7 -1
6 Geylang--- 5 1-3-1 5-5 6 0
7 SAFFC----- 4 1-2-1 5-6 5 -1
8 Home------ 3 1-1-1 4-4 4 0
9 Y.Lions--- 4 0-3-1 4-5 3 -1
10 Balestier 4 1-0-3 4-7 3 -1
11 Albirex-- 4 0-2-2 3-6 2 -3
-----------------------------
12 Beijing-- 3 0-1-2 1-4 1 -3

S.League All-Time Table Watch (up to 19-Feb-2010: break for League Cup)

# Teams---- Ssn P-- W---D--L-- F---A-- Pts GD--
-----------------------------------------------
01 SAFFC---- 15 391 261-69-061 964-460 854 +504 *
02 Home----- 15 389 219-70-100 812-517 729 +295 *
03 Tampines- 15 390 191-83-116 754-535 659 +219 *
04 Geylang-- 15 391 175-84-132 659-518 612 +141 *
05 Woodlands 15 389 142-95-152 618-637 519 -019 *
06 Balestier 15 390 100-88-202 535-783 390 -248 *
07 Tjg.Pagar 09 234 100-46-086 399-385 350 +014
----------------------------------------------
08 Gombak-- 11 259 82-64-113 366-437 310 -071 *
09 Yng.Lions 8 216 76-51-089 330-362 280 -032 *
10 Jurong--- 7 179 70-36-073 261-274 253 -013
11 Albirex-- 7 183 66-50-067 282-276 248 +006 *
12 Sengkang 11 292 52-64-176 303-624 228 -321 *
13 Sembawang 7 207 53-52-102 256-405 216 -149
---------------------------------------------
14 SuperReds 3 96 41-20-35 144-146 143 -02
14 Clementi 4 110 22-29-59 150-261 95 -111
16 Sinchi--- 3 87 22-19-46 109-166 88 -057
-------------------------------------------
17 Liaoning- 1 33 8-5-20 33-63 29 -30
19 Afrique-- 1 30 5-9-16 36-58 24 -22
20 Dalian--- 1 33 5-7-21 26-75 22 -49
20 Etoile FC 1 02 1-1-00 03-02 04 +01 *
21 PayaLebar 1 27 1-1-25 23-78 04 -55
22 Beijing-- 1 02 0-1-01 00-01 01 -01 *
23 Brun.DPMM 1 00 0-0-00 00-00 00 000 **

"*" : teams active in current season
"**": Brunei DPMM's results in 2009 expunged due to FIFA ban.

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Friday, November 30, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 30-Nov-2007

Sivaji's new Home
Bennett's public bashing of Alam Shah leaves a sour taste
Shamsul hangs up his whistle for good

SLVC - All Time Statistics up to 2007 (Final Version)

All Time Table up to the end of 2007:

# Team---- GP- W- D- L- F-- A-- Pts G/D
1 SAFFC--- 112 68 26 18 255-129 230 +126 *
2 Home-----101 59 22 20 204-131 199 +73 *
3 Geylang-- 72 32 17 23 135-097 113 +38
4 Woodlands 70 27 18 28 122-128 099 -06 *
5 Tampines- 62 27 14 21 117-099 095 +18 *
6 Tan.Pagar 42 15 11 16 67-65 56 +02
7 YngLions- 24 11 02 11 52-54 35 -02
8 Sinchi--- 15 04 03 08 18-29 15 -11
9 Clementi- 20 02 09 09 26-50 15 -24
10 Balestier 34 3 04 27 41-95 13 -54
11 Gombak--- 24 2 05 18 28-59 11 -31 *
12 Sembawang 21 2 05 14 20-52 11 -32
13 Jurong--- 18 2 03 13 18-38 09 -20
14 SuperReds 05 1 00 04 04-16 03 -12
15 Sengkang- 19 0 03 16 15-58 03 -43
16 Afrique-- 04 0 02 02 03-07 02 -04
17 Albirex-- 08 0 02 06 06-16 02 -10
18 Liaoning- 02 0 00 02 03-05 00 -02
19 P.Lebar-- 02 0 00 02 00-06 00 -06

* (updated since 13-Oct)

Statistical Summary up to the end of 2007:
Matches Played: 328
Home Win------: 144
Draw----------: 73
Away Win------: 111
Goals---------: 1134
Home Goals----: 622
Away Goals----: 512
Most Freq Scores: 1-1 (32 times), 2-1 (27 times)

Highlights since the last post on 13-Oct:
1.SAFFC has moved 31 points clear after being briefly over taken by Home.
2.Home/Woodlands are just 1 point away from 200/100 points, & both were denied by SAFFC!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 29-Nov-2007

Thursday, November 29, 2007
NTUC Income-YEO'S Awards Night in pictures
We look back at the images that best described the NTUC Income-YEO'S S.League Awards Night on 23 November, including some the papers missed.

Thursday, November 29, 2007
SEA Games: Baihakki praises SEA Games set-up
Baihakki Khaizan says he is pleasantly surprised with the training facilities at the Korat Sports Complex ahead of Singapore’s opening match in the SEA Games Men’s Football event against Laos on Saturday.

Thursday, November 29, 2007
FAS Technical Director P N Sivaji steps down to join Home United
The Football Association of Singapore has accepted Technical Director P N Sivaji’s decision to step down at the end of the year.

P/S:
Balestier's Record under P N Sivaji:

--------------------------------------------
Year Pos/#T G- W- D- L- F-- A-- G/D Pts PPG
--------------------------------------------

1998: 04/11 20 09 04 07 047 043 +04 031 1.55
1999: 07/12 22 06 08 08 025 027 -02 026 1.18
2000: 12/12 22 03 05 14 016 042 -26 014 0.64
2001: 07/12 33 08 11 14 043 057 -14 035 1.06
--------------------------------------------
Total:30/47 97 26 28 43 131 169 -38 106 1.09

So, can he lead Home United to greater heights?

SLVC - All Matches Played in 2007 (Final Version)

299 2007-03-08 Gombak---- Geylang--- 0 1
300 2007-03-13 Geylang--- Sengkang-- 3 2
301 2007-03-18 Geylang--- Super Reds 0 1
302 2007-03-29 Super Reds Balestier- 0 2
303 2007-04-02 Balestier- Tampines-- 1 3
304 2007-04-15 Tampines-- Super Reds 5 1
305 2007-04-20 Sing. AF-- Tampines-- 1 2
306 2007-04-28 Home------ Tampines-- 3 1
307 2007-05-10 Balestier- Home------ 1 3
308 2007-05-18 Home------ Sing. AF-- 2 0
309 2007-05-23 Geylang--- Home------ 0 3
310 2007-05-27 Super Reds Home------ 0 3
311 2007-06-10 Home------ Liaoning-- 2 1
312 2007-06-15 Home------ Gombak---- 1 1
313 2007-07-06 Albirex--- Home------ 1 2
314 2007-07-12 Home------ Sengkang-- 0 0
315 2007-07-16 Home------ Woodlands- 4 2
316 2007-08-04 YoungLions Home------ 2 4
317 2007-08-14 Home------ Balestier- 3 2
318 2007-08-17 Tampines-- Home------ 1 1
319 2007-08-20 Sing. AF-- Home------ 4 1
320 2007-08-27 Gombak---- Sing. AF-- 1 1
321 2007-09-01 Sing. AF-- Liaoning-- 3 2
322 2007-09-05 Sengkang-- Sing. AF-- 0 3
323 2007-09-10 Sing. AF-- YoungLions 5 0
324 2007-09-13 Sing. AF-- Albirex--- 1 0
325 2007-09-29 Balestier- Sing. AF-- 1 5
326 2007-10-06 Sing. AF-- Super Reds 6 2
327 2007-10-10 Geylang--- Sing. AF-- 1 3
328 2007-10-27 Sing. AF-- Tampines-- 1 1
329 2007-11-05 Woodlands- Sing. AF-- 1 3
330 2007-11-16 Home------ Sing. AF-- 0 0
331 2007-11-21 Sing. AF-- Gombak---- 2 1

Consolidated Table for 2007:
01 Home----- 15 10 4 1 32-16 34 +16 **
02 SAFFC---- 15 10 3 2 38-15 33 +23 **
03 Tampines--- 6 3 2 1 13-8 11 +5 **
04 Geylang---- 5 2 0 3 05-9 6 -4
05 Balestier-- 5 1 0 4 7-14 3 -7
06 Super Reds- 5 1 0 4 4-16 3 -12
07 Gombak----- 4 0 2 2 03-5 2 -2 **
08 Sengkang--- 3 0 1 2 02-6 1 -4
09 Lioaning--- 2 0 0 2 03-5 0 -2
10 Albirex---- 2 0 0 2 01-3 0 -2
11 Woodlands-- 2 0 0 2 03-7 0 -4 **
12 YoungLions- 2 0 0 2 02-9 0 -7

** Changes observed as compared to previous post.

Home United is the S.League-Virtual-Championships Mini-League (SLVC-ML) Winner of 2007! This is its 2nd title, after the previous win in 1999.
Coincidentally, SAFFC was the SLVC-ML Runner-up in 1999 & 2007 as well.
Even more coincidental was that Home & SAFFC also finished 1st & 2nd in the actual league both seasons!

Statistical Summary for 2007:
Matches Played: 33
Home Win------: 13
Draw----------: 6
Away Win------: 14
Goals---------: 113
Home Goals----: 56
Away Goals----: 57
Most Frequent Scores: 1-3, 1-1 (4 times each)

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

SLVC - Title Changes in 2007 (Final Version)

Rd Date ----- Home Team Away Team Scores Notes
65 2007-03-08 Gombak -- Geylang - 0 1
66 2007-03-18 Geylang - SuperReds 0 1
67 2007-03-29 SuperReds Balestier 0 2
68 2007-04-02 Balestier Tampines- 1 3
69 2007-04-28 Home ---- Tampines- 3 1
70 2007-08-20 SAFFC --- Home ---- 4 1

Note: The Round Number continued rolling from the previous season.

SAFFC is the season-end winner of 2007 S.League Virtual Championship!
(This is already its 4th season-end honors, after previous wins in 1998, 2002 & 2003.)

The title has changed hands 6 times this season.

S.League Media Coverage on 28-Nov-2007

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
MediaCorp Channel 5 to screen SEA Games matches LIVE
MediaCorp Channel 5 will be screening all three of Singapore’s matches LIVE in the preliminary round of the SEA Games Men’s Football competition starting with the match against Laos on Saturday, 1 December.

An S-League season to remember
Following in the footsteps of Fandi

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 27-Nov-2007

Alam Shah in the dock
Gombak United goalscorer Emmanuel has got the moves

P/S:
Beckham snags goal, yellow card in Galaxy loss to Sydney FC

The 2007 S.League / Singapore Cup "Combined" Table

Imagine if the 2007 S.League Table also included the Singapore Cup results, how would the final "Standings" have looked like?

(Was having this thought, as the Golden Boots of past seasons were all awarded base on goals scored in both tournaments)

# Team------- P- W- D L- F- A- Pts GD PPG
1 SAFFC------ 39 31 4 4 117 50 97 +67 2.487
2 Tampines--- 39 27 6 06 88 39 87 +49 2.231 *
3 Home------- 36 25 7 04 76 37 82 +39 2.278 *
4 Gombak----- 36 14 9 13 61 50 51 +11 1.417
5 Young Lions 34 13 8 13 46 56 47 -10 1.382
6 Woodlands-- 36 12 14 13 57 64 44 -7 1.222 *
7 Geylang---- 34 10 9 15 43 46 39 -03 1.147 *
8 Albirex---- 34 09 8 17 45 50 35 -05 1.029
9 Balestier-- 36 09 8 19 49 68 35 -19 0.972
10 Liaoning-- 34 08 5 21 36 67 29 -31 0.853
11 Sengkang-- 36 6 11 19 45 77 29 -32 0.801
12 Super Reds 34 03 9 22 24 82 18 -58 0.529
-------------------------------------------
13 Bangkok U- 06 04 0 02 06 04 12 +02 2.000 ^
14 Phnom Penh 01 00 0 01 03 04 00 -01 0.000
15 Chonburi-- 01 00 0 01 02 03 00 -01 0.000
16 BruneiDPMM 01 00 0 01 00 01 00 -01 0.000

* Positions changed with respect to 33-game League Table.
^ Bangkok U is actually good for 4th-place base on PPG!

Monday, November 26, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 26-Nov-2007

Monday, November 26, 2007
SAFFC come up triumphs in RHB Singapore Cup Final
SAFFC won the 2007 edition of the RHB Singapore Cup tournament in thrilling fashion, coming from behind not once but thrice to beat Tampines Rovers in an epic final at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday evening.

Monday, November 26, 2007
SAFFC beat Tampines Rovers in epic RHB Singapore Cup Final
Singapore Armed Forces FC have completed the domestic double after a 4-3 win over ten-man Tampines Rovers in an epic RHB Singapore Cup Final at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday.

Monday, November 26, 2007
Ugly goals did it, says Duric
The goals were not pretty according to Aleksandar Duric, but he was pleased with his brace that sealed a 4-3 win for RHB Singapore Cup winners SAFFC.

Monday, November 26, 2007
Bok: This was the best final
SAFFC coach Richard Bok proclaimed the RHB Singapore Cup 2007 final “the most exciting” in the tournament’s history, after his side emerged champions at the end of a seven-goal thriller.




:: Football: Alam Shah's night of shame>>>
:: Football: SAFFC beat Tampines Rovers to lift Singapore Cup>>>

Are you game, Singapore?
Alam Shah's night of shame

新加坡杯决赛 4比3力挫淡滨尼 军团圆双冠王美梦
要不把2007年称为“杜里奇年”都难,这名神射脚继前天的新加坡职业足球联赛常年颁奖礼上独揽四个奖项后,昨晚又在新加坡杯决赛中攻入两球,包括在完场前10分钟攻入致胜的一球,协助军团以4比3力挫“老爸兵团”淡滨尼流浪,一圆本赛季联赛和杯赛双冠王的美梦。

拳打贝内特 诺阿兰莎突‘发狂’
昨晚的新加坡杯决赛虽然精彩,但却因为淡滨尼前锋诺阿兰莎在完场前突然“发狂”,拳打军团后卫贝内特而使得比赛蒙上阴影。

Singapore Cup 2007 "Standings" (Final Version)

Updated from previous post, after SAFFC beat Tampines 4-3 on 25-Nov to win the cup:

# Team-------- P W D L F- A Pts GD
1 SAFFC------- 6 6 0 0 22 12 18 +10
2 Bangkok U--- 6 4 0 2 06 04 12 +2
-------------------------------
3 Tampines---- 6 3 1 2 11 07 10 +4
4 Woodlands--- 6 2 1 3 10 12 07 -2
-------------------------------
5 Balestier--- 3 2 0 1 05 05 06 +0
6 Home-------- 3 1 1 1 03 02 04 +1
7 Sengkang---- 3 1 1 1 06 08 04 -2
8 Gombak------ 3 1 0 2 07 10 03 -3
-------------------------------
9 Liaoning---- 1 0 0 1 03 04 00 -1
10 Phnom Penh- 1 0 0 1 03 04 00 -1
11 Chonburi--- 1 0 0 1 02 03 00 -1
12 Young Lions 1 0 0 1 01 02 00 -1
13 Albirex---- 1 0 0 1 00 01 00 -1
14 Brunei DPMM 1 0 0 1 00 01 00 -1
15 Geylang---- 1 0 0 1 00 02 00 -2
16 Super Reds- 1 0 0 1 00 02 00 -2

It's not surprising that 2007 double champions, SAFFC, is on top, by winning 6 games out of 6!

It's worth noting that Bangkok University FC is 2nd in this mini-league, instead of Tampines, :-)

Sunday, November 25, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 24/25-Nov-2007

24 Nov 2007, 7:45 PM Woodlands VS Bangkok U preview
25 Nov 2007, 7:45PM Tampines VS SAF preview


Sunday, November 25, 2007
Bangkok University claim third place after narrow win over Woodlands
Bangkok University claimed third place in their first appearance in the RHB Singapore Cup after edgin edged Woodlands Wellington 1-0 in the playoff match on Saturday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium.




Saturday, November 24, 2007
Tampines out to make it four wins from four Cup finals
Defending cup champions Tampines Rovers are seeking to maintain their perfect record in Singapore Cup finals as they come up against newly-crowned NTUC Income S.League kings Singapore Armed Forces FC in Sunday’s RHB Singapore Cup Final at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Saturday, November 24, 2007
Refund of tickets for Singapore - Palestine match
Please note that the NO requests of refunds of match tickets for the match between Singapore and Palestine which was originally scheduled for Sunday, 27 October 2007 will be entertained after Friday, 30 November 2007.

Saturday, November 24, 2007
Duric bags four trophies at NTUC Income-YEO'S Awards Night
Aleksandar Duric was by far the biggest winner on a good night for SAFFC, bagging four awards – and all the headlines – including the coveted NTUC Income Player of the Year award.



:: TODAY wins Story of the Year>>>

Tampines aim for Asian ticket in Final
Duric strikes it big, finally
Chip off the old block
Young Lions are up for it

杜里奇独揽新联赛四奖
本赛季职总英康-杨协成新加坡职业足球联赛年纪最大的球员,军团首席前锋杜里奇昨晚在新联赛常年颁奖礼上大放异彩,一人独揽四个奖项,将最佳球员、最佳射脚、200球奖和公众投选奖四个奖项抱回家,成为历来第一个获得四个奖项的球员,成为这次颁奖礼的大赢家。

新加坡杯赛决赛 不让军团双喜 淡滨尼立志卫冕
寻求卫冕的淡滨尼流浪过去三次打入新加坡杯赛决赛时,都顺利将冠军奖杯抱回家。今天该队又要在决赛中亮相,“老爸兵团”不只立志要成功捍卫锦标,保持他们在新加坡杯赛决赛的完美战绩,更要阻止刚在五天前成功卫冕新加坡职业足球联赛锦标的军团成为联赛和杯赛双料冠军。

P/S:
贝哥:2010年世杯赛 我还能披英格兰战袍
球星贝克汉姆(Beckham)第99次代表英格兰足球队出场的比赛,以一场耻辱的失利告终。但他在赛后接受采访时表示,希望自己在35岁时仍可以身披英格兰的战袍驰骋在2010年世界杯的赛场上。

What if Home United wasn't so lucky in 2007?

A thread on KallangRoar.Com recently mentioned that Home United had been scoring very late (at most in the final 5 minutes of the games) goals in many (10 out of its 24 wins) games in 2007:

Date-------------- Final Scores------------------------------ Scorers
16 March 2007----, Liaoning Guangyuan FC 1 Home United FC 2-, Goh Swee Swee 90
22 April 2007----, Home United FC 1 Young Lions 0-----------, Qiu Li 90
6 July 2007------, Albirex Niigata FC (S) 1 Home United FC 2, Shi Jiayi 88
14 August 2007---, Home United FC 3 Balestier Khalsa FC 2---, Shi Jiayi 87
26 August 2007---, Home United FC 2 Geylang United FC 1-----, Shi Jiayi & Diakite 90
4 September 2007-, Home United FC 2 Super Reds FC 1---------, Shahril Ishak 90
24 September 2007, Home United FC 3 Albirex Niigata FC (S) 2, Kengne Ludovick 90
7 October 2007---, WoodlandsWellington FC 2 Home United FC 3, Kengne Ludovick 86
11 November 2007-, Balestier Khalsa FC 2 Home United FC 3---, Shahril Ishak 90
21 November 2007-, Geylang United FC 1 Home United FC 2-----, Qiu Li 90

What if Home hadn't scored those goals? How would the standings have looked like? Here you are:

# Team------- P W- D- L- GF - GA Pts GD
1 SingaporeAF 33 25 04 04 95 - 38 79 (+57)
2 Tampines--- 33 24 05 04 77 - 32 77 (+45)
3 Home------- 33 14 15 04 62 - 35 57 (+27)
4 Gombak----- 33 13 09 11 54 - 40 48 (+14)
5 Young Lions 33 13 09 11 45 - 53 48 (-8)
6 Geylang---- 33 11 10 12 43 - 41 43 (+2) **
7 Woodlands-- 33 10 14 09 47 - 51 38 (-4)
8 Albirex---- 33 09 10 14 45 - 47 37 (-2) **
9 Balestier-- 33 07 10 16 44 - 61 31 (-17) **
10 Liaoning-- 33 08 06 19 33 - 62 30 (-30) **
11 Sengkang-- 33 05 10 18 39 - 69 25 (-30)
12 Super Reds 33 03 10 20 24 - 79 19 (-55)

** Twice lost to Home!

Simply amazing, isn't it?

Saturday, November 24, 2007

杜里奇独揽新联赛四奖

杜里奇独揽新联赛四奖
● 洪伟喜


  本赛季职总英康-杨协成新加坡职业足球联赛年纪最大的球员,军团首席前锋杜里奇昨晚在新联赛常年颁奖礼上大放异彩,一人独揽四个奖项,将最佳球员、最佳射脚、200球奖和公众投选奖四个奖项抱回家,成为历来第一个获得四个奖项的球员,成为这次颁奖礼的大赢家。

  颁奖礼是在新达城举行,座上嘉宾是国会议长阿都拉。刚刚在三天前成功捍卫锦标的军团共扫走14个奖项的其中六项。除了杜里奇的四个奖项外,该队还夺得最佳教练和最佳进球奖。

  “高龄”37岁的杜里奇在1999年加入新联赛,这么多年来他的实力和进球能力有目共睹。这名射脚不只一次入围最佳球员奖,但却一直无法得奖,也多次与最佳射脚奖擦身而过。不过,杜里奇却在早已过了巅峰期的年龄,凭着出色的表现在本赛季的联赛中出尽风头,不枉他那么多年的心血。

  杜里奇本赛季在联赛攻入了37球,在新加坡杯赛至今也攻入了5球,不只高踞射脚榜榜首,更扯平了另一名老将格拉多瓦在2001年创下的赛季最多进球纪录。而杜里奇的42个进球也让他在本地球赛的总进球数增加至222球,使他成为了“200进球俱乐部”的成员。他是继内政部联队前球员埃马和格拉多瓦之后,第三个荣获200球奖项的球员。杜里奇优秀的表现让他成为众多球迷心目中的最爱,在由球迷投选出来的公众投选奖项中脱颖而出。

  对于自己拿下了四个奖项,杜里奇感到十分意外,他说:“我真的没有想到自己会得那么多奖,尤其是最佳球员奖,这实在太令人难以置信了!我心目中的最佳球员人选其实是内政部联队的施佳懿,所以当颁奖人念出我的名字时,我惊讶得心脏差点就停止。这是我第三次入围,应该说是幸运的第三次吧。虽然我每年都为错过最佳射脚奖感到痛心,但最佳球员才是我最珍惜的奖项。”

  接管军团兵符大权才一年半就摘下两个联赛锦标的军团教练莫国铨则“连桩”,连续第二年夺得最佳教练殊荣,是继军团前教练、现任内政部联队教练文森(1996、97年)和淡滨尼流浪教练沃拉万(2004、05年)之后,第三个两度成为最佳教练的人。

  年仅38岁的莫国铨说:“这种感觉实在是太棒了!我要好好感谢球会、球员、球迷和家人,因为没有大家的支持,我绝对不可能做到。今年得奖的感觉比去年甜蜜得多,因为今年我从赛季一开始就负责球队,不像上赛季那样在中途才掌管兵符。”

  最佳青年球员奖则归今年在联赛中表现抢眼的淡滨尼流浪中卫沙里夫所有。这名前国脚沙末之子在受访时说:“我完全没有预料自己会得奖,因为比我好的球员多的是,我还以为凯鲁阿姆里(幼狮)会得奖。其实,我应该要感谢队友穆拉托维奇,因为要不是他在赛季前没有通过体能测验,我根本没有机会首发。”

2007年新联赛颁奖礼部分得奖名单
最佳球员:杜里奇(军团)
最佳青年球员:沙里夫(淡滨尼)
最佳教练:莫国铨(军团)
最佳射脚:杜里奇
100球奖:卡斯米尔(101球,甘柏)
200球奖:杜里奇(222球)
最有体育精神奖:新潟
最佳球迷俱乐部奖:芽笼联队
最佳裁判:阿峇斯
最佳助理裁判:吴昱凭
最佳进球奖:特德萨(军团)
公众投选奖:杜里奇

Finally, the 6000th S.League Goal...

... never arrived (yet). Instead the all-time total is now stuck at 5999, the lastest being scored by Sengkang's #14, Farhan Farook in the 49th minute of the 1-1 draw against Balestier on 22-Nov...
Congrats Farook anway, for concluding the 2007 S.League season!

How the total number of S.League games / goals shaped-up at the end of each season:

Season-Games-Goals-GPG
------------------------
1996 - 0113 - 0364 3.221
1997 - 0185 - 0613 3.312
1998 - 0295 - 0982 3.329
1999 - 0427 - 1392 3.260
2000 - 0559 - 1771 3.168
2001 - 0757 - 2460 3.250
2002 - 0955 - 3202 3.353
2003 - 1153 - 3833 3.324
2004 - 1288 - 4346 3.374
2005 - 1423 - 4823 3.389
2006 - 1588 - 5380 3.388
2007 - 1786 - 5999 3.359

Friday, November 23, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 23-Nov-2007

Friday, November 23, 2007
S.League Awards Night 2007 - The Winners
Honouring the outstanding achievers and their achievements is what the NTUC Income-YEO'S S.League Awards Night is all about. Here are the list of winners.

Friday, November 23, 2007
Are You Game to be unveiled at RHB Singapore Cup Final
The “Are You Game?” Rap will be presented to the Football Association of Singapore prior to the RHB Singapore Cup Final between Tampines Rovers and Singapore Armed Forces FC on Sunday, 26 November at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Friday, November 23, 2007
Vincent: My job at Home is done
Vincent Subramaniam has confirmed he is calling it a day as Home United coach – but proclaimed himself ‘very satisfied’ with the club’s performance in his 16-month tenure.

Friday, November 23, 2007
S.League Awards Night 2007 - The Nominees
Honouring the outstanding achievers and their achievements is what the NTUC Income-YEO'S S.League Awards Night is all about. Here are the list of nominees.

:: Football: Balestier Khalsa leapfrog Liaoning after Sengkang draw>>>

The ever-present youngster
A point is enough for Balestier Khalsa to leapfrog Liaoning
He wanted out, say Tampines

新联赛最佳球员今晚揭晓
2007年新加坡职业足球联赛昨晚才落下帷幕,紧接着要登场的就是常年颁奖礼。到底谁将获颁最佳球员奖?谁又将获得最佳青年球员奖?谜底将在今晚举行的颁奖礼上揭晓。

马里士他逼和盛港
候补前锋摩哈末伊祖安终场前8分钟扳回一城,帮助马里士他卡沙昨晚于大巴窑体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛中,以1比1逼和盛港榜鹅,夺下宝贵的1分。

P/S:

Dismal England sink into abyss
McClaren sacked after Croatia loss ends Euro 2008 dream

FA may go for foreign coach as economists count the cost of England's exit
England's Football Association said yesterday they would consider foreign candidates for the vacancy as manager of the national team in a change of policy that could clear the way for an approach to Jose Mourinho.

Beckham counting on McClaren successor for 100 club membership
David Beckham has vowed to continue his quest to win a century of caps for England under whoever succeeds Steve McClaren as head coach.

Beckham ready to play for foreign England coach
David Beckham believes a foreign manager is likely to replace Steve McClaren as England coach.

欧锦赛外围赛 23年首次 英格兰被拉下马
被誉为“黄金一代”的现任一批英格兰球星,明年只能在观众席或电视机前面,观看在奥地利和瑞士举行的欧洲足球锦标赛正赛。

英主帅“人头落地”
英格兰主帅麦克拉伦终于保不住头上的乌纱帽。在英格兰足球队不敌克罗地亚,惨遭淘汰后,英格兰足总决定开除他。

Singapore Cup 2007 "Standings" (as at 23-Nov)

Imagine if all games in Singapore Cup 2007 were consolidated into a mini-league, who would have come out tops?

(For now, only the top-8 teams, i.e. the quarter-finalists, are listed, the full table will be posted after the cup final.)

# Team----- P W D L F- A Pts GD
1 SAFFC---- 5 5 0 0 18 09 15 +9
2 Tampines- 5 3 1 1 08 03 10 +5
-------------------------------
3 Bangkok U 5 3 0 2 05 04 09 +4
4 Woodlands 5 2 1 2 10 11 07 -1
-------------------------------
5 Balestier 3 2 0 1 05 05 06 +0
6 Home----- 3 1 1 1 03 02 04 +1
7 Sengkang- 3 1 1 1 06 08 04 -2
8 Gombak--- 3 1 0 2 07 10 03 -3

It's not surprising that our finalists this season are in the top-2, with SAFFC winning 5 out of 5!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 22-Nov-2007

22 Nov 2007 Balestier VS Sengkang preview

Thursday, November 22, 2007
Balestier 1-1 Sengkang: Izzuan smashes home late equaliser
Balestier Khalsa needed a late goal by Muhammad Izzuan, making only his second appearance for his team, to salvage a 1-1 draw with Sengkang Punggol in their last home game of the season.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Geylang 1-2 Home: Qiu Li's late winner ensures Home finish second
A heartbroken Home United tasted bittersweet victory Wednesday night as they finished runners-up in the NTUC Income-YEO’S S.League despite edging Geylang United 2-1 at the Bedok Stadium thanks to a late goal by substitute Qiu Li.

Thursday, November 22, 2007
Noor Ali hails champions' consistency, teamwork
SAFFC skipper Noor Ali has described the Warriors' successful defence of the NTUC Income-YEO'S S.League title as 'fantastic'.

Thursday, November 22, 2007
SAFFC 2-1 Gombak: Warriors defend crown
The defending champions cut it incredibly close against a gutsy Gombak United, who were reduced to ten men late in the game, to retain the S.League title.



Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tampines 3-1 Albirex: Stags finish third
Tampines Rovers defeated Albirex Niigata FC (S) 3-1 at the Tampines Stadium on Wednesday night but still finished the S.League season in third spot behind Home United and SAFFC.



:: Football: SAFFC retain S.League title after beating Gombak United 2-1>>>

No joy for exhausted Home
The stuff of champions

军团蝉联冠军
本地足坛豪门军团昨晚在蔡厝港体育场凭着上半场的梅开二度,以2比1力挫甘柏联队,蝉联新加坡职业足球联赛的冠军。这是12年来,该队第六次夺得桂冠。

aseanfootball.org: BACK TO BACK CROWN FOR SAFFC

P/S: British Guardian: SAFFC clinch sixth Singaporean title

军团蝉联冠军

军团蝉联冠军
● 洪伟喜
(早报体育)

  本地足坛豪门军团昨晚在蔡厝港体育场凭着上半场的梅开二度,以2比1力挫甘柏联队,蝉联新加坡职业足球联赛的冠军。这是12年来,该队第六次夺得桂冠。

  另两支有望夺标的队伍也在昨晚报捷,内政部联队在客场以2比1击败芽笼,淡滨尼流浪队则以3比1拿下日本新潟。但军团打胜仗意味着三队在积分榜上的排名不变,军团以79分成功卫冕,内政以一分之差名列第二,淡滨尼则以77分排名第三。

  这是自2001年以来,锦标争夺战最紧张刺激的一次。今年的三匹红马,即军团、内政和淡滨尼从赛季一开始就展开激烈的争夺战。三队表现都有起有落,轮流当过领头羊。在最后第二轮比赛结束后,三队积分的差距只有区区的两分。

  昨天军团是三队之中最没有把握打胜仗的一队,因为该队之前两次在联赛与甘柏交手时,一次与对手踢和,另一次却战败。反观内政和淡滨尼的对手比较容易对付,很多人都以为军团可能无法二连冠。但该队在上半场就两度攻陷对手城门,一早就奠定了胜利的基础。

  第12分钟,军团小将赛夫在禁区内把球传给队长诺阿里,后者转身避开了对方球员的纠缠之后,以一记低射破关。短短9分钟后,赛夫将角球高吊入禁区,无人防守的军团后卫新进建二跃起把球入网。

  下半场再战,甘柏在第63分钟扳回一球,使赛情变得紧张起来。赛夫在自己禁区内将对方球员鲁海扎德绊倒,送给甘柏一个罚球。军团门将雷扎尔虽然猜中甘柏前锋卡斯米尔罚球的方向,但只能稍微触碰到球,无法制止球入网。

  完场前7分钟,军团前锋村上范和被推倒在地。这时经过他身旁的甘柏后卫普雷西奥斯不慎踢到前者的脸,结果裁判不但将普雷西奥斯驱逐出场,还判给军团罚球,引来甘柏球员大大的不满。在抗议长达3分钟后,甘柏球员才让对手踢罚球。不过军团中场球员威尔金森把球踢成冲天炮,无法再扩大球队的领先优势。

  军团教练莫国铨领军两年就摘下两个冠军杯,他在受访时说:“这种感觉实在是太棒了!我无法用言语来形容。这次夺标的感觉比去年更甜蜜,这不只是因为去年我们提早几轮比赛就夺冠,更重要是夺标难,捍卫锦标更难。我们今年表现起起落落,尤其是在赛季开始时,能够顺利摘冠,一切要归功于大家的努力。”

  前锋杜里奇则说:“我真的是太高兴了!我自1999年就参加这项联赛,但没有一年比今年好!我简直就好像是在做梦,不只第一次夺得最佳射脚,队伍还成功卫冕。我好希望时间就一直停留在2007年。”

  军团获得了15万奖金,内政获得7万5000元奖金,淡滨尼则获得了4万元的奖金。

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 20/21-Nov-2007

Wednesday, November 21, 2007
SAFFC retain crown after 2-1 win against Gombak
SAFFC have retained their NTUC Income-YEO’S S.League crown after surviving a late rally by Gombak United at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium. Goals from Noor Ali and Kenji Arai gave the Warriors the 2-1 win and the three points they needed to keep the trophy at the Warriors Arena.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Safe hands: Amos Boon's S.League journey
The ability to withstand the winds of change is often testament to the enduring nature of any personality. Goalkeeper Amos Boon, a steadfast fixture on the teamsheets of three clubs among whom six names have been shared, is one of the few players who have seen the S.League blossom from its nascent eight-team phase to the twelve-team lineup we know today.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Triple Title Showdown Day
And then there were three. In fact, the identity of the three teams leading the NTUC Income – YEO’S S.League table has been the same since the first month of the season.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Nazri Nasir: Been there, done that
"Nazri Nasir" is a name that certainly features in the collective local psyche, and one that is destined to command a place in Singaporean footballing folklore.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Warriors admitting all to their final home game of the season
Admission will be free for the Warriors’ last home match against Gombak United FC on 21st November 07, Wednesday, at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium. The match will kick off at 7:45pm.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Liaoning 0-2 Woodlands: Clinical Rams see ten-man Liaoning off
Goals from Abdelhadi Laakkad and Yusri Waris gave Woodlands Wellington a 2-0 win over Liaoning Guangyuan at the Queenstown Stadium on Monday.

:: Football: Woodlands sign off with S.League victory>>>

Woodlands sign off with a victory
Business as usual, in polo shirts
SAFFC's final exam

不敌兀兰 辽宁排名第九
辽宁广原昨晚在女皇镇体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛战役中,以0比2不敌来犯的兀兰威灵顿,以失利结束了他们的首个新联赛赛季。

P/S:
US veteran Mathis to join Beckham in Galaxy midfield
Beckham can make me England's hero says Crouch
E组 贝哥高佬应是佳配:进行竞技性比赛讲求的是实力,但有些时候又不能不忽视运气这一环。实际上,有些人即使实力有限,可是却获得幸运之神的眷顾,经常可以无往不利。

The Greatest Ever Title Race - S.League 2007!

Wow, what a finish! Probably the greatest ever... Why?

1. The title was only decided after the final round of games:
2007-11-21 Geylang - Home 1 - 2 (1-1 for long period)
2007-11-21 Singapore AF - Gombak 2 - 1
2007-11-21 Tampines - Albirex 3 - 1 (1-1 at one point)

2. While final round drama has also happened in 1996, 1998 & 2001, 2007 season really stood out, as the big-3 kept switching leadership all-season.

3. The 1996 & 1998 races involved only 2 teams, while the 2001 season was effectively a 2-horse race between Geylang & Home until SAFFC sneaked in with a late run of 12 wins out of its last 13 games (which meant that it actually fell rather far behind the top-2 earlier in the season as well).

4. The final placings of the teams wasn't even decided until the final whistle, with Home scored again in the 90th minute to maintain Runners-up spot ahead of Tampines.
5. The 2001 final scores was a lot more clear-cut:
2001-10-26 Gombak - Home 1 - 0
2001-10-26 Geylang - Jurong 3 - 0
2001-10-26 Singapore AF - Woodlands 5 - 0

Several Notes of Significance:

1. Gombak wasn't able to wrest away the SLVC from SAFFC like what it did against Home in 2006, but Bravo to it for a nail-biting finish!

2. Despite not winning the league, Home United did clinched its 600th league point all-time, with a proud record of 179W-2PK-59D-84L-F683-A451, second only to SAFFC! It also secured the 2007 SLVC mini-league title the week before, so not really empty-handed, :-)

3. Tampines finished at 3rd in the all-time table thru 2007, 9 points ahead of Geylang. Bear in mind that the gap between them was actually 120 points at the end of 2003, but Tampines kept narrowed it down season-by-season (2004: 94 pts, 2005: 63 pts, 2006: 29 pts), what a pursuit!

4. 5999 S.League goals has now been scored all-time since 1996, could the 6000th arrive during Balestier-Sengkang game on 22-Nov?

5. Though SAFFC couldn't manage 100 league goals in 2007, its total of 95 is still the 4th best all-time, behind itself in 2001 (101) / 2002 (104) & Home in 2003 (104).

6. The gap between 3rd-placed Tampines & 4th-placed Gombak was a staggering 29 points, a record distance between any 2 adjacent-placed teams in S.League history! (The previous record was 20 points between champs SAFFC & runners-up Home in 2002.)

7. This is the 3rd time a team has successfully defended its title, after SAFFC itself in 1997/98 & Tampines in 2004/05. Can they become the first team to achieve 3-in-a-row next season? Only time will tell...

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Who will score the 6000th S.League Goal on the day of destiny?

We all know that the 2007 S.League Champions will be decided on 21-Nov, when all the big-3 play their respective opponents simultaneously.

However, do you know that another significant milestone (the 6000th S.League Goal) could be reached on this day of destiny as well?

Currently the league has already seen 5989 goals all-time, what it takes will be 11 or more goals scored in these 3 matches, which is not impossible given that the average goals per game this season is 3.13 so far.

If the 6000th goal doesn't arrive from these, it will then come down to the last game of the year when Balestier takes on Sengkang, not too bad as a season finale as well!

Gombak 1-0 Balestier on 18-Nov: 200 points reached!

Avid Gombak fans would remember that 18-Nov-2007 was the day their team sealed its highest ever finish (4th) in the league (its previous best was 5th in both 1999 & 2000).

But I bet not many might have realized that it was also the day their team reached the milestone of 200 league points all-time!

Their all-time record now reads:

Pos S GP- W *PK D L- F-- A-- GD *Pts PPG
11 07 192 53 0 43 96 263 360 -97 202 1.052

With the now-defunct 9th-placed Sembawang Rangers just 14 points ahead, Gombak should easily overtake it next season, though passing Jurong (on 253 points) may need 1 more season...

Congrats to Gombak!

Monday, November 19, 2007

Projected S.League 2007 Finish: 19-Nov (Special Edition)

As the league entered the final round on 19-Nov, with all teams played 32 games (except YL & Super Reds who have completed their fixtures), it's a good time to re-visit the projected finish.

As at 19-Nov:
# Team------- P- W- D L- GF - GA Pts GD
1 SingaporeAF 32 24 4 04 93 - 37 76 (+56)
2 Home------- 32 23 6 03 71 - 34 75 (+37)
3 Tampines--- 32 23 5 04 74 - 31 74 (+43)
4 Gombak----- 32 13 9 10 53 - 38 48 (+15)
5 Young Lions 33 13 8 12 45 - 54 47 (-9)
6 Geylang---- 32 10 9 13 42 - 42 39 (+0)
7 Albirex---- 32 09 8 15 44 - 46 35 (-2)
8 Woodlands-- 32 9 13 10 45 - 52 34 (-7)
9 Liaoning--- 32 08 5 19 33 - 61 29 (-28)
10 Balestier- 32 07 7 18 43 - 62 28 (-19)
11 Sengkang-- 32 05 9 18 38 - 68 24 (-30)
12 Super Reds 33 03 9 21 24 - 80 18 (-56)

Projected Finish:
# Team------- P- W- D L- GF - GA Pts GD
1 SingaporeAF 33 25 4 04 96 - 38 79 58
2 Home------- 33 24 6 03 73 - 35 78 38
3 Tampines--- 33 24 5 04 76 - 32 77 44
4 Gombak----- 33 13 9 11 55 - 39 48 16
5 Young Lions 33 13 8 12 45 - 54 47 -9
6 Geylang---- 33 10 9 14 43 - 43 39 0
7 Albirex---- 33 09 8 16 45 - 47 35 -2
8 Woodlands-- 33 9 13 11 46 - 54 34 -8
9 Liaoning--- 33 08 5 20 34 - 63 29 -29 **
10 Balestier- 33 07 7 19 44 - 64 28 -20 **
11 Sengkang-- 33 05 9 19 39 - 70 24 -31
12 Super Reds 33 03 9 21 24 - 80 18 -56

** Finishing Position changed as compared to previous post.

Alternatively, a special Projection can also be worked out base on the predictions of the final games:

2007-11-19 Liaoning - Woodlands 1 - 1 (Both teams trying to maintain higher finish in the table)
2007-11-21 Geylang - Home 1 - 2 (Title Decider #1: Geylang has nothing to play for)
2007-11-21 Singapore AF - Gombak 2 - 1 (Title Decider #2: Gombak has nothing to play for)
2007-11-21 Tampines - Albirex 2 - 1 (Title Decider #3: Tampines still has outside chance)
2007-11-22 Balestier - Sengkang 2 - 1 (Balestier fight for 9th, Sengkang has nothing to play for)

# Team------- P- W- D L- GF - GA Pts GD
1 SingaporeAF 33 25 4 04 95 - 38 79 (+57)
2 Home------- 33 24 6 03 73 - 35 78 (+38)
3 Tampines--- 33 24 5 04 76 - 32 77 (+44)
4 Gombak----- 33 13 9 11 54 - 40 48 (+14)
5 Young Lions 33 13 8 12 45 - 54 47 (-9)
6 Geylang---- 33 10 9 14 43 - 44 39 (-1)
7 Albirex---- 33 09 8 16 45 - 48 35 (-3)
8 Woodlands-- 33 9 14 10 46 - 53 35 (-7)
9 Balestier-- 33 08 7 18 45 - 63 31 (-18)
10 Liaoning-- 33 08 6 19 34 - 62 30 (-28)
11 Sengkang-- 33 05 9 19 39 - 70 24 (-31)
12 Super Reds 33 03 9 21 24 - 80 18 (-56)

S.League Media Coverage on 19-Nov-2007

19 Nov 2007 Liaoning VS Woodlands preview

Monday, November 19, 2007
Gombak 1-0 Balestier: Fourth spot in the bag
Gombak United have confirmed fourth spot with a 1-0 victory over Balestier Khalsa at the Jurong West Stadium on Sunday, thanks to Obadin Aikhena's strike.

:: Football: Gombak Utd edge out Balestier Khalsa in S.League>>>

Liaoning ponder team makeover
Gombak's Obadin targets a breakthrough season next year

甘柏小胜马里士他
凭着尼日利亚籍中场埃克纳在下半场的唯一进球,甘柏联队昨晚在裕廊西体育场举行的新联赛中,以1比0小胜马里士他卡沙,肯定获得本季第四名。

Sunday, November 18, 2007

The 600th Goal of S.League 2007...

... was scored by Tampines' Peres de Oliveira in the 28th minute of the 4-2 win against Sengkang on 17-Nov...

Congrats Peres!

Breakdown of milestone goals this season (info thanks to SLeague.Com):
1st goal – Kone Hamed v Super Reds (04 March)
50th goal – Noh Alam Shah v Liaoning (25 March)
100th goal – Kingsley Njoku v Young Lions (5 April)
200th goal – Lee Tae Hoon v Young Lions (24 May)
300th goal – Aliff Shafaein v Balestier (12 July)
400th goal – Mustafic Fahrudin v Albirex (28 August)
500th goal – Hafiz Rahim v Liaoning (04 October)

S.League Media Coverage on 17/18-Nov-2007

17 Nov 2007 Sengkang VS Tampines preview

Saturday, November 17, 2007
Home 0-0 SAFFC: Title race still on
At the end of 90 minutes of what has indisputably been the biggest match of the season, the S.League title still had not found a home for the next year, and the result means that the fate of the championship now rests on Wednesday's triple header.

Saturday, November 17, 2007
12 S.League stars, one YEO'S People Choice
Vote for your favourite NTUC Income YEO’S S.League star from the list of twelve of nominees and if your pick wins, you could be winning some attractive prizes from yourself.

Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sengkang 2-4 Tampines: Rovers keep slim title hopes alive
Tampines Rovers maintained their tenuous interest in the title race with a lacklustre 4-2 win, on Saturday night at Hougang Stadium over a Sengkang Punggol side that was well below their best.

Sunday, November 18, 2007
RHB Singapore Cup Final ticketing details
Tickets for next Sunday’s RHB Singapore Cup Final between Tampines Rovers and SAFFC will go on sale from Monday 19 November at the FAS office in Jalan Besar Stadium as well as at the home stadiums of the two finalists.

:: Football: SAFFC on the brink>>>
:: Football: Sengkang Punggol succumb to 2-4 loss to Tampines Rovers>>>

SAFFC on the brink
Still an edge left for Sengkang and Tampines
Firdaus targets a fresh start

军团只能踢和内政
如果军团本赛季无法成功捍卫新加坡职业足球联赛锦标,那就只能埋怨自己为何昨晚在碧山体育场举行的变相“锦标争夺战”中没有好好地把握机会,只能以0比0踢和内政部联队。

力挫盛港榜鹅 老爸兵团还有一拼
很多人原以为“老爸兵团”淡滨尼流浪会在本赛季新加坡职业足球联赛的锦标争夺战中最先举白旗,不过虽然在四天前只能与甘柏联队踢和,导致夺标希望受挫,淡滨尼昨天却在后港体育场举行的比赛中,以4比2力挫盛港榜鹅队,确保他们在最后一轮的比赛仍然可以与其他两支劲旅军团和内政部联队争夺冠军奖杯。

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Best / Worst Finish of S.League 2007, as at 17-Nov

As the season enters its final round, let us take a look at the best / worst position each team can finish in the end, as at 18-Nov (including Sengkang 2-4 Tampines):

#- Team------- P- Pts GD --- MaxPts - Best Worst
1 Singapore AF 32 76 (+56) - 79 ----- 1st, 3rd
2 Home-------- 32 75 (+37) - 78 ----- 1st, 3rd
3 Tampines---- 32 74 (+43) - 77 ----- 1st, 3rd
------------------------------------------------
4 Young Lions- 33 47 (-09) - 47 ----- 4th, 5th
5 Gombak------ 31 45 (+14) - 51 ----- 4th, 5th
------------------------------------------------
6 Geylang----- 32 39 (+00) - 42 ----- 6th ONLY
-------------------------------------------------
7 Albirex----- 32 35 (-02) - 38 ----- 7th, 8th *
8 Woodlands--- 32 34 (-07) - 37 ----- 7th, 8th *
-------------------------------------------------
9 Liaoning---- 32 29 (-28) - 32 ----- 9th, 10th *
10 Balestier-- 31 28 (-18) - 35 ----- 9th, 10th *
-------------------------------------------------
11 Sengkang--- 32 24 (-31) - 27 ----- 11th ONLY *
-------------------------------------------------
12 Super Reds- 33 18 (-56) - 18 ----- 12th ONLY

** Changes observed as compared to previous post on 8-Nov.

The league is now heading for one of its tightest finishes since 2001.
Back then, with 1 round to go, Geylang, Home & SAFFC were just 1 point apart too.
In the end Home fell to 3rd after a surprise defeat by Gombak on the last day of the season.

Will history repeat itself this time round? The title will be decided by these 3 games on 21-Nov:
2007-11-21 Geylang - Home
2007-11-21 Singapore AF - Gombak
2007-11-21 Tampines - Albirex

SLVC Report: Home 0-0 SAFFC: Bring on Gombak!

Unlike their previous encounter on 20-Aug, there were no goals between Home & SAFFC on 16-Nov, although that still doesn't diminish the multiple significances of this game:

0) SAFFC now looks almost certain to retain the league title, all it need to do is to beat Gombak on its final game of the season. Otherwise Home or even Tampines may still sneak in...

1) In the 2007 SVLC mini-league, Home United is now guranteed the title as it still has a 4-point lead over SAFFC (30 points, 9W-3D-2L, F36-A14) with just 1 game to go.

Congrats to Home United!

2) In the all-time SLVC mini-league standings, SAFFC now has 227 points (67W-26D-18L, F253-A128) & remain 28 points clear of 2nd-placed Home United, who now has 199 points.

3) In the all-time S.League standings, SAFFC now has 702 points (213W-2PK-59D-50L, F800-A391), while Home is just one win away from its 600th point! (it currently has 597)

4) SAFFC now has to score 7 goals against Gombak in order to reach 100 goals in S.League 2007! Not impossible, but highly unlikely lah... :-)

5) Should Gombak beat SAFFC in the last game, it will finish as the season-end winners for the 2nd successive year after 2006 (when it beat Home in the last game then as well).

Expect an electrifying contest as SAFFC takes on Gombak on 21-Nov, since a lot will be at stake in this game (S.League title, SLVC season-end title, Century of Goals, etc...), so stay tune for the preview on this intesreting clash!

P/S: Prior to this game 598 goals has already been scored in S.League 2007, it's a pity that the 600th goal didn't come from here. We'll see if Tampines / Sengkang will get it in the next game!

Friday, November 16, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 16-Nov-2007

16 Nov 2007 Home VS SAF preview

Friday, November 16, 2007
Woodlands 1-0 Super Reds: Azlan scores rare goal to give Rams win
Midfielder Azlan Alipah was the unlikely hero as he conjured up a special goal in the 17th minute to gift-wrap all three points for the home team.

:: Football: Woodlands Wellington edge out Super Reds in S.League>>>

It all comes down to 90 minutes
Lions get down to business
S-League goes hip hop crazy

一球栽在兀兰脚下 超红继续吃败仗
韩国超红昨晚在兀兰体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛中,以0比1栽在兀兰威灵顿脚下,吃下了本赛季的第21场败仗,无法为该队在新联赛的第一个赛季写下好的结局。

Title Decider #3: Home vs SAFFC on 16-Nov! (Pt.2)

It all comes down to 90 minutes
Captains Noor Ali and Subramani remain calm before the storm

Friday • November 16, 2007
NTUC Income-Yeo's S-League 2007
Home United v SAFFC
Bishan Stadium, 7.30pm
Paul Green
sports@newstoday.com.sg

SAFFC captain Mohd Noor Ali was in good spirits yesterday when we met at Bishan Stadium.
The champions face Home United tonight in the biggest match of the NTUC Income-Yeo's S-League 2007 season, but 24 hours before what the title decider, Noor Ali was a picture of calm.

"We know it won't be easy," said Noor Ali. "As usual, we will give it everything. We know if we beat Home we will retain the title. Even though we are playing away, we'll go all out to win so we can sew things up before we meet Gombak in our last game."

With their final match of the season at home to Gombak United, one would think the Warriors would be happy to come away from Bishan with a point.

But the Bulls have yet to be beaten by SAFFC this season and Noor Ali cautioned: "We lost once to them at Jalan Besar and drew at Jurong West, so they are tough.

"Anyway, if we win at Bishan then we can display the trophy in front of our supporters next Wednesday when we play Gombak."

Noor Ali does not feel the absence of top scorer Aleksandar Duric — who is away with Singapore for the World Cup qualifier with Tajikistan — will seriously blunt his team's attack.

"Masrezwan (Masturi) is getting into form again and we know if we play as a team we have very capable players to win this match," said the skipper.

"I don't care who scores for us. We all have to do our job. If we play our best the goals will come.

"It is going to be a great game and hopefully a very good crowd will turn up to see it," the 32-year-old added.

Home United skipper S Subramani has done it all before, of course.

The Protectors, who end their 2007 campaign at Geylang United next Tuesday, won the title in 1999 and again in 2003.

Subramani is under no illusions about how tough SAFFC will be.

"We are really focusing on this match and it is our game of the season," he said. "Everyone at training has been very positive.

"We need to win both our remaining matches, but we are taking it one game at a time and we have our minds on this game alone right now.

"We want to win for the fans, as they have been tremendous for us all season."
Besides Duric, SAFFC will be without John Wilkinson, Daniel Bennett and Faizal Hamid.

Home United will miss national stars Lionel Lewis, Indra Shahdan Daud, Shahril Ishak and Shi Jiayi, while Qiu Li is suspended

"With the national players away we will be missing some really top talent who play a big role in our team's success, but we'll rally together," Subramani insisted.

"We are confident we will be able to overcome their absence."

In last night's S-League match, Woodlands Wellington beat Super Reds 1-0 at Woodlands Stadium, thanks to defender Azlan Alipah's first-half goal.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 15-Nov-2007

15 Nov 2007 Woodlands VS Super Reds preview

Thursday, November 15, 2007
Tampines 1-1 Gombak: Honours shared
Gombak United inched closer to their end-of-season objective while Tampines Rovers drifted further away from theirs, following a 1-1 draw between the two sides on Wednesday evening.

:: Football: Gombak Utd hold Tampines Rovers to 1-1 draw in S.League>>>

A rising, lucrative S-League
Steinebrunner rues Woodlands' luck

老爸兵团只能逼和甘柏
淡滨尼流浪队的“老爹们”耐力不足,昨晚在淡滨尼体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛中,只能以1比1逼和来犯的甘柏联队,成为了锦标争夺战中最先摔跤的球队。

SLVC Preview: Home vs SAFFC on 16-Nov

As we know from previous post, SAFFC's next SLVC challenger on 16-Nov, Home United, is the 2nd-most successful team in SLVC with 11 titles. It is also the current leader of 2007 SLVC mini league, of which SAFFC is trying hard to overtake.

Homes' all-time record in the SLVC is also the 2nd best, having played exactly 100 macthes, won 59, drew 21 & lost 20, allowing them to amass 198 points in the overall standings, just behind SAFFC (66-25-18, 223).

Should Home beat SAFFC, besides almost assured of winning S.League 2007, it will also become only the 2nd team to surpass 200 points in the all-time SLVC mini-league standings.

If Home manage at least a draw against SAFFC, it will be guranteed as winners of 2007 SLVC mini league, which would be its 2nd mini-league win after finishing top in 1999.

Home's SLVC records against SAFFC currently reads: 15 games played, won 4, drew 4, lost 7, scored 18 & conceded 23.

The match-ups between the 2 teams since 2001 showed that Home has won 7, drew 3 & lost the other 10. If only the 11 games at Bishan stadium were considered, Home has 6 wins, 1 draw & 4 losses.

In 2007 alone, Home & SAFFC have won 1 apiece in 2 games (2-0 at home & 1-4 away). I would say that a draw is the likely result for this time round though, what do you think?

P/S: As at 15-Nov (after Woodlands 1-0 Super Reds), 598 goals have already been scored in S.League 2007. The 600th goal could come from this game as well, truly a fixture of destiny!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 13/14-Nov-2007

14 Nov 2007 Tampines VS Gombak preview

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Albirex 2-0 Liaoning: Takase's brace settles it
Two well-taken goals by golden boy Akira Takase helped Albirex Niigata conclude their home programme with a comfortable 2-0 win over Liaoning Guangyuan at Jurong East Stadium on Monday night.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
RHB Singapore Cup final date announced
The final for the RHB Singapore Cup 2007 has between Tampines Rovers and Singapore Armed Forces FC has been scheduled for Sunday, 25 November at the Jalan Besar Stadium and will kick-off at 7.45pm.

:: Football: Albirex Niigata beat Liaoning Guangyuan in S.League>>>

A derby clash, one glittering prize
Armband won't weigh heavy on him
Vorawan rallies the troops for must-win clash

新潟新星连陷两城
虽然新潟本季最高只能排名第七,是他们受邀参加新加坡职业足球联赛以来最差劲的排名,不过该队在本赛季也不能说全无收获。至少,他们发掘了一名具有潜力的新星——前锋高濑证。

Title Decider #3: Home vs SAFFC on 16-Nov! (Pt. 1)

A derby clash, one glittering prize
Tuesday • November 13, 2007


A WIN for second-placed Home United and they will almost certainly lift the NTUC Income-Yeo's S-League 2007 title.

All league leaders SAFFC need is one point, and they will in all probability defend their league crown.

There is so much at stake when the two teams meet this Friday at Bishan Stadium, in what has been billed as the match of the season.

Both sides will have just one game to go after the clash — Home will visit Geylang United next week while SAFFC will host Gombak United — and look quite capable of winning their respective matches. So it almost certainly comes down to the 90 minutes on Friday.

Both camps were in upbeat mood yesterday.

Protectors' coach Vincent Subramaniam held a special training session for the players who will fill in for his four Lions — Shahril Ishak, Shi Jiayi, Indra Sahdan and Lionel Lewis — away on World Cup qualifying duty.

"We wished all the national team players farewell and good luck after Sunday's win over Balestier. Now, we are concentrating on plugging the holes in our midfield," said Vincent.

"We won't have Qiu Li also after he picked up another yellow card on Sunday, so there's a lot of thinking to do.

"But we don't need to work the rest of the players hard on the training field now. It is mental preparation that's important at this stage."

Vincent insisted home ground advantage would count for little on Friday.

"I really think they (SAFFC) have the upper hand with their talented foreigners and the fact that they have not had a game since Nov 5," he said.

"Since they played at Woodlands last Monday, they will have had 11 days rest by the time Friday comes, while we are still recovering from our match on Sunday."

SAFFC coach Richard Bok was only interested in how his men were doing and he was happy to report the Warriors' were up for the battle ahead, especially after the recovery of their Thai star.

After struggling with a thigh injury for a few weeks, midfielder Therdsak Chaiman came through a practice game yesterday showing no ill effects.

"We didn't play him against Woodlands last week to give him time to recover from his injury as he needed the rest," said Bok. "All is good for us now and we just have to go to Bishan and do our job. It now comes down to hunger and desire, it is about how much the players want the championship."

"While a draw at Bishan will suit us, we will go there to win. We want to win both our remaining games," he insisted.

Meanwhile, in last night's S-League match, Albirex Niigata beat Liaoning Guangyuan 2-0 at Jurong East Stadium.

A first-half brace from 19-year-old striker Akira Takase ensured the three points for the home side. — Paul Green

Monday, November 12, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 12-Nov-2007

12 Nov 2007 Albirex VS Liaoning preview

Monday, November 12, 2007
Balestier 2-3 Home: Shahril's late strike keeps Home in the hunt
Home United left it late once again, as they beat Balestier Khalsa 3-2 in a thrilling finish at the Toa Payoh Stadium thanks to an injury time strike by Shahril Ishak.

An Albirex family affair
Home Utd back from the dead

新联赛 内政上演大逆转 力挫马里士他
内政部联队本赛季若能如愿登上新加坡职业足球联赛冠军宝座,最要感谢的是幸运之神的关照。该队昨晚在大巴窑体育场举行的比赛中,凭着国脚沙里尔伊萨在补足时间的进球,成功上演大逆转,以3比2力挫主队马里士他卡沙。

Sunday, November 11, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 9/10/11-Nov-2007

11 Nov 2007 Balestier VS Home preview

Friday, November 09, 2007
MP Er. Lee gives Super Reds the thumbs up
Proceedings to the NTUC Income-YEO'S S.League match between the Super Reds and Albirex Niigata at the Yishun Stadium on Thursday got underway with a symbolic kick-off by MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC and Adviser to Nee Soon South Grassroots Organisations Er. Lee Bee Wah.

Friday, November 09, 2007
Super Reds 2-2 Albirex: Choi's late strike denies White Swans
It was perhaps a fitting end to the season that 10-men Super Reds salvaged some pride on home soil to come away with a deserved point in the very last minutes of football to be played at the Yishun Stadium this season.

:: Football: Super Reds hold Alibirex Niigata to 2-2 draw in S.League>>>

a win or bust

韩国超红逼和日本新潟 避免空手而归
后卫崔相俊在最后1分钟的进球,让全部由韩国球员组成的超红昨晚在义顺体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛“日韩大战”中,以2比2逼和来犯的新潟,确保该队本赛季最后一次在自家门前作战不致空手而归。

P/S:
Becks wants to be a star and that's bad, says Pele

荷兰前名将古利接掌银河帅印
荷兰前名将古利(Gullit)前天被委任为美国足球大联赛球队洛杉矶银河(Los Angeles Galaxy)新主帅,将在明年率领英格兰球星贝克汉姆(Beckham)和他的队友出战新一季的美国大联赛(MLS)。

贝哥被召回英格兰救主
英格兰球星贝克汉姆(Beckham)昨天被重召入英格兰队,有望参加本月21日对垒克罗地亚的欧洲足球锦标赛外围赛战役。这也可能是英格兰主帅麦克拉伦(McClaren)最后一次领军作战。

Saturday, November 10, 2007

SLVC Report: Woodlands 1-3 SAFFC: Home is next!

As expected, SAFFC comfortably beat Woodlands 3-1 away on 5-Nov to open-up a 4-point gap at the top, now all eyes are fixed at Home vs Tampines on 6-Nov...

Several key notes from this result:

1) In the 2007 SVLC mini-league, SAFFC now has 29 points (9W-2D-2L, F36-A14) & moved within 4 points of the current leader, Home United, whom it will face on 16-Nov.

2) In the all-time SLVC mini-league standings, SAFFC now has 226 points (67W-25D-18L, F253-A128) & moved 28 points clear of 2nd-placed Home United.

3) In the all-time S.League standings, SAFFC now has 701 points (213W-2PK-58D-50L, F800-A391) & has proudly capture its 700th point & 800th goal all-time!

Congrats to SAFFC for yet another record-breaking feat...

4) SAFFC has now scored 93 goals in S.League 2007, just 7 more goals away from 100! (though scoring 7 in its final 2 games against tough-to-beat Home & Gombak maybe a tall order)

5) Woodlands' record in the all-time SLVC mini-league is now 27W-18D-25L, F122-A128 & still remain 4th (out of 19 teams).

SAFFC will play Home next on 16-Nov, expect an electrifying contest as a lot will be at stake in this game (S.League title, SLVC mini-league title, Century of Goals, etc...), so stay tune for the preview on this gigantic clash!

P/S: For more info on the previous SLVC match between SAFFC / Home on 20-Aug, which was simply a classic, go check the preview & report back then.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Projected S.League 2007 Finish: 9-Nov

With the league taking a quick break on 9-10-Nov, it's a good time to re-visit the projected finish again.

As at 9-Nov:
# Team------- P- W- D L- GF - GA Pts GD
1 SingaporeAF 31 24 3 04 93 - 37 75 (+56)
2 Home------- 30 22 5 03 68 - 32 71 (+36)
3 Tampines--- 30 22 4 04 69 - 28 70 (+41)
4 Young Lions 33 13 8 12 45 - 54 47 (-9)
5 Gombak----- 30 12 8 10 51 - 37 44 (+14)
6 Geylang---- 32 10 9 13 42 - 42 39 (+0)
7 Albirex---- 31 08 8 15 42 - 46 32 (-4)
8 Woodlands-- 31 8 13 10 44 - 52 31 (-8)
9 Liaoning--- 31 08 5 18 33 - 59 29 (-26)
10 Balestier- 30 07 7 16 41 - 58 28 (-17)
11 Sengkang-- 31 05 9 17 36 - 64 24 (-28)
12 Super Reds 32 03 9 20 24 - 79 18 (-55)

Projected Finish:
# Team------- P- W- D L- GF - GA Pts GD
1 SingaporeAF 33 26 3 04 99 - 39 81 60 **
2 Home------- 33 24 6 03 75 - 35 78 40 **
3 Tampines--- 33 24 4 05 76 - 31 76 45 **
4 Gombak----- 33 13 9 11 56 - 41 48 15
5 Young Lions 33 13 8 12 45 - 54 47 -9
6 Woodlands-- 33 9 14 10 47 - 55 41 -8 **
7 Geylang---- 33 10 9 14 43 - 43 39 0 **
8 Albirex---- 33 09 9 15 45 - 49 36 -4 **
9 Balestier-- 33 08 8 17 45 - 64 32 -19
10 Liaoning-- 33 09 5 19 35 - 63 32 -28
11 Sengkang-- 33 5 10 18 38 - 68 25 -30
12 Super Reds 33 03 9 21 25 - 81 18 -56

** Finishing Position changed as compared to previous post.

Sigh, Tampines has now dropped to 3rd, as Home beat it 2-0 on 6-Nov. The winner in the Home-SAFFC clash on 16-Nov will most likely take the title, while the loser will need to fight with Tampines for 2nd place.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

S.League Media Coverage on 8-Nov-2007

8 Nov 2007 Super Reds VS Albirex preview

Thursday, November 08, 2007
Young Lions 0-0 Geylang: Stalemate at Jalan Besar
For the second time this season, the Young Lions and Geylang United played out a goalless stalemate at the Jalan Besar in the final match of the current campaign for the hosts and the penultimate one for the visitors.

:: Football: Young Lions and Geylang Utd play to goalless draw in S.League>>>

Albirex are showing the way

幼狮与芽笼言和
在双方都少了多名主力球员的情况下,幼狮昨晚在该队本赛季的最后一场新加坡职业足球联赛中,只能在惹兰勿刹体育场以0比0与芽笼联队握手言和。
新联赛赛程
超红 对 新潟

Best / Worst Finish of S.League 2007, as at 8-Nov

As the season enters its final stretch, let us take a look at the best / worst position each team can finish in the end, as at 8-Nov:

#- Team------- P- Pts GD --- MaxPts - Best Worst
1 Singapore AF 31 75 (+56) - 81 ----- 1st, 3rd
2 Home-------- 30 71 (+36) - 80 ----- 1st, 3rd
3 Tampines---- 30 70 (+41) - 79 ----- 1st, 3rd
------------------------------------------------
4 Young Lions- 33 47 (-09) - 47 ----- 4th, 5th *
5 Gombak------ 30 44 (+14) - 53 ----- 4th, 5th *
------------------------------------------------
6 Geylang----- 32 39 (+00) - 42 ----- 6th ONLY *
-------------------------------------------------
7 Albirex----- 31 32 (-04) - 38 ----- 7th, 10th *
8 Woodlands--- 31 31 (-08) - 37 ----- 7th, 10th *
-------------------------------------------------
9 Liaoning---- 31 29 (-26) - 35 ----- 7th, 11th *
10 Balestier-- 30 28 (-17) - 37 ----- 7th, 11th *
-------------------------------------------------
11 Sengkang--- 31 24 (-29) - 30 ----- 9th, 11th *
-------------------------------------------------
12 Super Reds- 32 18 (-55) - 21 ----- 12th ONLY *

** Changes observed as compared to previous post on 11-Oct.

The possibilities will get even narrower as each team runs out of games, so stay tuned for more updates on this in the coming weeks!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

The Race for 4th Place (Updated 7-Nov-2007)

Updated the partial standings & remaining fixtures after YL drawn 0-0 with Geylang on 7-Nov to become the first team completing their 2007 season (due to the upcoming SEA Games):

4. Young Lions 33 13 8 12 45-54 47 (-9)
5. Gombak----- 30 12 8 10 51-37 44 (+14)

Gombak's remaining fixtures & forecast:
2007-11-14 Tampines (A) - D/L = 45/33 pts
2007-11-18 Balestier (H) - W = 48/47 pts
2007-11-21 Singapore AF (A) - D/L = 49/47 pts


Now all Gombak need to do is to beat Balestier at home to snatch 4th-place & surpass 200 league points all time! (currently it has 198)

P/S:
With this draw, Geylang is almost a sure bet to finish 6th, unless it loses its final game of the season (likely, against Home) & Albirex manage to win all its 3 remaining games (highly unlikely though, esp. vs Tampines in its last game):
2007-11-08 Super Reds (A) -
2007-11-12 Liaoning (H) -
2007-11-21 Tampines (A) -

Sigh, Tampines is all but out of the 2007 title race...

Draft match report from SLeague.Com...

Home United breathed new life into their S.League title campaign on Tuesday evening, following a vital 2-0 win at Bishan Stadium over fellow challengers Tampines Rovers that left the visitors all but eliminated in a surprise twist to the season run-in.

Kone Hamed was the star of the show for the Protectors, bagging two goals in the second half after a resolute defensive performance by Home had left Tampines unable to find a way past goalkeeper Ridzuan Fatah Hassan.

The balance first shifted for Vincent Subramaniam's side in the 67th minute, when some hesitant defending by Sead Muratovic and Zulkarnaen Zainal allowed Hamed to pot a firm shot past a rooted Rezal Hassan.

Hamed then served his coup de grace six minutes from time, brilliantly finishing a counterattacking move by lofting the ball teasingly over an onrushing Rezal to set Home up for a crunch showdown with defending champions SAFFC next Friday.

Full match report to follow on SLeague.Com...

S.League Media Coverage on 7-Nov-2007

7 Nov 2007 Y Lions VS Geylang preview

Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Home 2-0 Tampines: Kone double puts Home back into title hunt
Home United fought their way back into the title reckoning as they posted a priceless 2-0 victory over fellow challengers Tampines Rovers at Bishan Stadium on Tuesday evening.

:: Football: Home Utd revive S.League title hopes, set up clash with SAFFC>>>

Sundram confident Young Lions will deliver
Get set for a hot derby

内政踢垮淡滨尼
在昨晚一场国脚缺阵的新加坡职业足球联赛主力战中,内政部联队在碧山体育场以2比0击败淡滨尼流浪,重燃了夺标希望。



P/S:
贝哥参加义赛 为加州灾民筹款
英格兰足球巨星贝克汉姆(Beckham)星期天连同数名影星与退休球员举行一场义赛,为南加利福尼亚州野火的灾民筹到9万多美元(约13万新元)。

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Title Decider #2: Home vs Tampines on 6-Nov!

Crunch time for Home, Tampines
With SAFFC in the driving seat, victory is what both teams are seeking tonight

Tuesday • November 6, 2007
NTUC Income-Yeo's S-League 2007
Home Utd v Tampines Rovers
Bishan Stadium, 7.45pm
Paul Green sports@newstoday.com.sg

IT COULD well come down to this one match for title contenders Home United and Tampines Rovers.

Both sides meet tonight in an NTUC Income-Yeo's S-League 2007 match-up at Bishan Stadium, with the season on the line.

After a smooth 3-1 win away to Woodlands Wellington last night, league leaders and defending champions SAFFC are now five points ahead of Tampines and seven in front of Home, although the two chasers have each played 29 games.

While many will hope for a classic at Bishan, this clash of the giants may well turn into a cagey affair, with both teams missing their Singapore stars.

The Protectors will be without the influential Shi Jiayi, Shahril Ishak, Indra Sahdan Daud and goalkeeper Lionel Lewis, while Tampines have lost top scorer Noh Alam Shah, Shariff Abdul Samat, Ridhuan Muhamad and Mustafic Fahrudin, as the Lions prepare for their World Cup second round, first leg qualifier with Tajikistan on Friday at the National Stadium.

Some fans are unhappy at the loss of such big-name players at such a pivotal moment of the season.

"This has been the best league contest we have had for many years, but many fans are becoming disillusioned when they can't see their own team perform at their best," said Roland Seow, chairman of Home's fan club.

"I've spoken to SAFFC and Tampines fans and they agree that important games should be postponed when the national players are not available."

Of the three clubs vying for the title, Home have the toughest run-in — they travel to Balestier next Sunday before hosting SAFFC and finishing away to Geylang. Tampines have home games against Gombak and Albirex Niigata, with a trip to Sengkang Punggol in between.

Besides the home game with Home, SAFFC will play Gombak in their final game, also at Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

Tampines will be buoyed by the return of Brazilian playmaker Peres de Oliveira and former Lions stalwart Zulkarnaen Zainal for the visit to Bishan. Both experienced players missed the 1-1 draw at SAFFC a week ago.

Seow is wary of the Stags.
"Tampines have such committed foreign players and they will make it hard for us," he said.

"If the foreign players were called up by their national teams it would be a different matter. But our own Singapore national players are going to miss out on helping our club win the title at this important stage of the season and that's a shame."

S.League Media Coverage on 6-Nov-2007

6 Nov 2007 Home VS Tampines preview

Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Herel taking it one step at a time
Ahead of Wednesday’s trip to the Jalan Besar Stadium, Geylang United coach Jozef Herel is relishing the challenge of bringing the once-mighty Eagles back into the big time.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007
World Freestyle Champion John Farnworth in town
English freestyle footballer John Farnworth will be performing at the half-time interval of the NTUC Income-YEO’S S.League match between the Young Lions and Geylang United on Wednesday.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Woodlands 1-3 SAFFC: Adik's brace keeps Warriors title bid on track
The former hero of Woodlands Wellington Masrezwan Masturi scored twice against his former club to help SAFFC defeat the Rams 3-1 at the Woodlands Stadium on Monday night.

:: Football: Crunch time for Home Utd, Tampines Rovers>>>

Crunch time for Home, Tampines

新联赛 连续12场 军团不败
尽管少了四员大将,但领头羊军团昨晚还是在兀兰体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛中,发挥超强实力,以3比1客场挫败兀兰威灵顿,打下联赛连续12场不败的战绩。

Monday, November 5, 2007

The Fight near the Bottom of S.League 2007

Now that Super Reds is officially the Wooden Spoon of S.League 2007, the fight near the bottom of S.League 2007 is still very much alive, with half-a-dozen teams battling it out to finish as high as possible in the final standings.

As at 5-Nov, the 7-11th teams are:
## Team------ P- W D- L- GF - GA Pts GD
07. Albirex-- 30 8 07 15 40 - 44 31 (-04)
08. Woodlands 31 8 13 10 44 - 52 31 (-08)
09. Liaoning- 31 8 05 18 33 - 59 29 (-26)
10. Balestier 30 7 07 16 41 - 58 28 (-17)
11. Sengkang- 31 5 09 17 36 - 64 24 (-28)

Their remaining games & forecast:
Albirex:
2007-11-09 Super Reds (A) W = 34 pts,
2007-11-12 Liaoning (H) D = 35 pts,
2007-11-21 Tampines (A) L = 35 pts
Woodlands:
2007-11-15 Super Reds (H) W = 34 pts,
2007-11-19 Liaoning (A) D = 35 pts
Liaoning:
2007-11-12 Albirex (A) D = 30 pts,
2007-11-19 Woodlands (H) D = 31 pts
Balestier:
2007-11-11 Home (H) L= 28 pts,
2007-11-18 Gombak (A) L= 28 pts,
2007-11-22 Sengkang (H) D = 29 pts
Sengkang:
2007-11-17 Tampines (H) L = 24 pts,
2007-11-22 Balestier (A) D = 25 pts

Of the 5 teams, Sengkang look set to finish in 11th. Though the 7-10th teams can still catch each other, my take is that Albirex & Woodlands will fight it out for 7-8th while Liaoning & Balestier will be at 9-10th, base on the remaining games.

S.League Media Coverage on 5-Nov-2007

5 Nov 2007 Woodlands VS SAF preview

Monday, November 05, 2007
Liaoning 3-3 Sengkang: Ten man Sengkang stun Liaoning
Suriyandi Naib salvaged what appeared to be a lost cause for Sengkang Punggol team as his stunning effort from the edge of the box helped the Dolphins to hold hosts Liaoning Guangyuan to a 3-3 draw on Sunday.

It's all about the team
Liaoning break free of bottom three

辽宁两失两球领先优势
原本两度领先对手两球,但却不懂得守住优势,由全部中国球员组成的辽宁广原昨晚在女皇镇体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛中,最终被只剩10人作战的盛港榜鹅以3比3逼和,错失了拿下3分的大好机会。

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Liaoning 3-3 Sengkang: Super Reds Bottom

It's Official: As Liaoning & Sengkang battled to a dramatic 3-3 draw on 4-Nov, Super Reds season has finally ended the way most of us expected long time ago: A bottom-place finish.

But really, Super Reds fate was practically sealed when it lost 0-1 in the crunch bottom-of-the-table clash with Sengkang on 30-Oct. Its subsequent 1-3 loss to Young Lions on 3-Nov confirmed that it will finish bottom on G/D (-55 vs -28) at best.

With the draw, Sengkang now has 24 points, 7 more than Super Reds (on 17) with 2 more games to go, hence its lead is mathematically unassailable.

However, this result also (unofficially) meant that Sengkang will mostly finish 2nd-bottom for 2007, so there's really not much pride & joy to derive here, just sigh of relief, :-)

More on this later though...

S.League Media Coverage on 4-Nov-2007

4 Nov 2007 Liaoning VS Sengkang preview

Saturday, November 03, 2007
Super Reds 1-3 Young Lions: Rare Baihakki goal sends Young Lions on their way
Baihakki Khaizan scores his first league goal in more than two years as the Young Lions cantered to a 3-1 win over the Super Reds at Yishun on Saturday.

Saturday, November 03, 2007
The S.League: Gradually Getting There
As the time comes towards the end of its twelfth year, however, Singapore’s professional football league has grown quite nicely. Just four weeks remain in the current S.League season, one which many in the industry have described as ‘exciting’.

:: Football: Young Lions down Super Reds 3-1 in S.League match>>>

不敌幼狮 超红铁定垫底
换了球员,换了名字,换了球徽,但还是换不了命运。来自韩国的超红昨晚在义顺体育场以1比3输给幼狮后,已铁定在本季的新加坡职业足球联赛中垫底。

Saturday, November 3, 2007

The Race for 4th Place (Updated 3-Nov-2007)

Updated the partial standings & remaining fixtures after YL beat Super Reds 3-1 on 3-Nov:
4. Young Lions 32 13 7 12 45-54 46 (-9)
5. Gombak----- 30 12 8 10 51-37 44 (+14)

Gombak's remaining fixtures & forecast:
2007-11-14 Tampines (A) - D = 45 pts
2007-11-18 Balestier (H) - W = 48 pts
2007-11-21 Singapore AF (A) - D = 49 pts


YL's remaining fixtures & forecast:
2007-11-10 Geylang (H) - W = 49 pts


P/S:
With this latest result, Geylang is mathematically out of the race for 4th & virtually out of the running for 5th place too.

It is, however, looks most certain to finish 6th, as long as:
it gain at least 3 more points from its remaining 2 games; or if
7th-placed Albirex & 8th-placed Woodlands both drop any more points:
6. Geylang---- 31 10 8 13 42-42 38 (+0)
7. Albirex---- 30 08 7 15 40-44 31 (-4)
8. Woodlands-- 30 08 13 9 43-49 31 (-6)


Geylang's remaining fixtures & forecast:
2007-11-10 Young Lions (A) - L = 38 pts
2007-11-20 Home (H) - L = 38 pts

S.League Media Coverage on 3-Nov-2007

3 Nov 2007 Super Reds VS Y Lions preview

Saturday, November 03, 2007
Albirex 1-2 Geylang: Leo's brace gives Eagles the points at Jurong East
Brazilian striker Leopoldino dos Santos, despite his fitness problems, scored a brace to help Geylang United beat Albirex Niigata (S) at the Jurong East Stadium on Friday.

:: Football: Geylang Utd beat Albirex 2-1 in S.League match>>>

FOR THE SUPER REDS, IT'S NOW ABOUT PRIDE

阵容虽残缺 芽笼仍挫新潟
尽管面对严重的损兵折将问题,芽笼联队昨晚还是在裕廊东体育场举行的新加坡职业足球联赛中,凭着巴西籍外援多斯桑托斯梅开二度,以2比1力挫日本球会新潟,巩固了第六名位置。

Friday, November 2, 2007

SLVC Preview: Woodlands vs SAFFC on 5-Nov

As we know from previous post, SAFFC's next SLVC challenger on 5-Nov, Woodlands Wellington, boast a respectable pedigree in the virtual championship, having won the title on 8 occasions, only bettered by SAFFC (13), Home (11) & Geylang (10).

Woodlands' all-time record in the SLVC is also the 4th best, having played 68 macthes, won 27, drew 18 & lost 24, allowing them to amass 99 points in the overall standings, just behind SAFFC (66-25-18, 223), Home (59-21-20, 198) & Geylang (32-17-23, 113).

It is also worth noting that Woodlands has actually been the best team in the SLVC mini-league for the past 3 seasons (2004, 2005, 2006), the only team to have achieve this feat 3-in-a-row!

Woodlands' SLVC records against SAFFC currently reads: 19 games played, won 4, drew 5, lost 5, scored 20 & conceded 26. Sounds not too bad right? Though the Rams have not beat the Army after the 2003 season, :-)

The match-ups between the 2 teams since 2001 showed that Woodlands has won 6, drew 6 & lost the other 8. If only the 8 games at Woodlands stadium were considered, Woondlands has 2 wins, 3 draws & 3 losses.

In 2007 alone, Woodlands was already well beaten twice by SAFFC (0-6! at home & 1-3 away). I would say SAFFC should get a win from here too, anything less would be upsets, :-p