Woodlands Wellington VS Tanjong Pagar United
4 August 2013
Woodlands Stadium

By Ong Jiing Yih

With three more games to go in the regular season of the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League after Sunday, the jostle for the top half positions cannot get any hotter.

As far as Tanjong Pagar United are concerned the current objective is to maintain their position, poise and panache.

Monsef Zerka, Kamel Ramdani and Ismael Benahmed have all done their fair share in a gargantuan team effort all season long, fulfilling the prerequisite of scoring vital goals.

Spirits remain high despite a spanner being thrown into the works, in the shape of a fairly serious injury sustained by midfielder Sazali Salleh in the Cup tie against Loyola Meralco Sparks.

The 5-4 aggregate triumph came at a cost, as the horrible challenge on his fibula leaves him with the prospect of sitting out the rest of the season.

In the meantime the likes of Balestier Khalsa and Home United remain hot on the heels for the chase to finish as high as possible, hence there shall be no room for easing up.

This upcoming assignment pits them against a markedly different Woodlands side than the one they faced in April.

The Rams have creeped up into the top half and stacked up 13 goals in 5 matches after a revival from which they drew with Warriors FC and eked out a last-minute win over Hougang United.

Since then, they have also garnered high-scoring wins against DPMM FC and Courts Young Lions.

In the process, Korean duo Moon Soon Ho and Chang Jo Yoon increased their goal tallies significantly.

Crucially, alongside Ang Zhi Wei, Atsushi Shimono and mid-season signing Theerawekin Seehawong, it is a veteran rolling back the years that has been a major talking point.

Yazid Yasin the goalkeeper has done his fair share this year with a series of stunning, acrobatic saves most notably against DPMM and Courts Young Lions, giving the long-suffering fans much to cheer.

When the two teams met at Woodlands Stadium in the corresponding fixture last year, Serge Souchon netted a wonder goal to settle a tepid contest.

The task may be somewhat trickier this time around but nevertheless the Jaguars aim to celebrate a similar outcome, with plenty of excitement and goalmouth action thrown in for the fans.

Kickoff is at 8 pm.