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