By Song Sung Hai

This season’s results
YL 2-3 TPUFC
TPUFC 3-0 YL

Back once again to the S.League after yet another extended fixture break and the second fixture of Round 2.5 will have us welcome the Young Lions to Queenstown Stadium tonight. The Jaguars currently are a point ahead of the Young Lions with Woodlands Wellington sandwiched between the two after their loss to Geylang International.

A victory for the Young Lions tonight will see them leapfrog the two into third place of the Bottom-Six table and the Jaguars will not want to see that happen.

It appears that the Jaguars will end the season in the same manner they started it; with a depleted squad. Through suspensions alone, three key players will miss tonight’s clash. Captain Ahmad Latiff, Sebastien Etiemble and Asraf Rashid will have no part to play tonight. Injuries to Anthony Aymard, Tengku Mushadad, Zahid Ahmad and Monsef Zerka will add to the Jaguars’ woes.

Head Coach Patrick Vallée will now have to rely on five Prime League players to step up and reinforce the squad. Nonetheless, Patrick can still count on the likes of Kamel Ramdani, Firdaus Idros and Hafiz Osman to carry the team against the flailing youngsters from Jalan Besar. Afiq Tan also impressed in the friendly game against Johor Darul Ta’zim last week and should he start, the exciting and explosive young forward will be eager to repeat his sterling performance.

Young Lions lost at home just three days earlier to Harimau Muda and they will want to give a good showing tonight against the Jaguars. Their star striker Sahil Suhaimi, fresh from an impressive showing at the Asian Games will prove to be a real threat. He will also be aided by Sherif el-Masri and Jordan Webb, players who can turn games around when at their best.

Victory tonight will cement the Jaguars position in third of the Bottom-Half table and the lads will be eager to do so as the aim is to finish the season with as many points as possible. A victory will also close the gap between the Jaguars and the Eagles to five points.

See you there!