By Song Sung Hai

1st Leg Result:
Tampines Rovers 4-2 Tanjong Pagar United

A two-goal deficit is not something a team cannot come back from but it is a daunting task nonetheless for the Jaguars. The RHB Singapore Cup dream is definitely at threat and Queenstown Stadium will be the venue where the Jaguars will attempt the impossible.

Far from being absolutely overwhelmed in the first-leg, the Jaguars were let down instead by lapses in concentration at the back and the likes of Jamil Ali, who scored twice, and Jozef Kaplan who had two assists to his name and a goal, made the Jaguars pay.

The Jaguars though showed defiance and quality to come back twice in the game and that is heartening to see. It simply means if the Jaguars can shape things up at the back, the tide may turn in our favour, especially with the lads showing everyone that they can score against the Stags.

Leading the strike will be Monsef Zerka, who converted a penalty in the first-leg to make it two goals in two RHB Singapore Cup ties and he has the quality to add to his tally, even against the Stags. Kamel Ramdani is another player who has impressed lately and always looks to score whenever possible.

Firdaus Idros finally got his first goal of the season in the last game and his confidence will definitely have taken a turn for the better. His hard running and skilful incursions into enemy territory all season have not been rewarded with goals before the last tie and surely that goal will instil even more self-belief in the pacey attacker.

Tampines Rovers will once again surely look to Jozef Kaplan to provide the crucial impetus in attack if they are to stand a chance of holding their lead at Queenstown. The ex-Eagles finisher have shown why he is loved dearly by the fans of the eastern Singapore outfit and the Stags have done well to capture the ex-Eagle after his departure from Negri Sembilan, in accordance to their tradition of snapping up quality players from their eastern rivals.

Jamil Ali will attempt to repeat his feat from last week and his speed down the flanks will surely cause some trouble but surely his abilities will have been noted by the Jaguars. Aleksander Duric may yet miss this tie again and Miljan Mrdakovic will look to make the most of Aleksander’s absence. He managed to score last week and remains a threat if left to his own devices.

The RHB Singapore Cup is one tournament where every game is a final in its own right and with this second-leg tie, it will be even more so. The Jaguars attempt to repeat last year’s journey to the final and will definitely give their all in this crucial game against the Stags. The match is far from over and an upset may yet be on the cards tonight so come on down and catch this cracker of a RHB Singapore Cup tie!

See you there!