By Song Sung Hai

This year’s previous results
TPUFC 1-2 HGUFC
HGUFC 1-1 TPUFC
TPUFC 1-0 HGUFC

It is the Starhub League Cup semi-final and the Cheetahs travel once again to Queenstown Stadium for another cup tie against the Jaguars. Previously, the Jaguars triumphed 1-0 over Hougang United in the first round of the RHB Singapore Cup and that fact will not be lost on the visitors tonight.

Both sides meet after bundling out the two uniformed giants of the S.League. The Cheetahs pulled off a last minute shock victory over Home United while the Jaguars made it through with a tactical victory over the Warriors last Friday.

Tonight though, the Jaguars will be without our talismanic captain Ahmad Latiff, who will miss this game to suspension. Deployed as a forward in this tournament, Ahmad Latiff has made a difference in all games he played with three goals and several crucial assists to his name, including the pass which found Firdaus Idros for his goal against the Warriors.

Head Coach Patrick Vallée, though, will be heartened with Firdaus Idros’ fruitful run in this tournament. The normally goal-shy winger has already notched four goals in three games and his growing confidence in front of goal will provide additional threat upfront for the Jaguars.

Additionally, Monsef Zerka has also been lethal and very close to peak performance the past few games. His well-timed and skilful runs are second to none in Singapore and he creates havoc each time the ball finds his feet.

Games between the Jaguars and the Cheetahs this year have been tight affairs each time and Cheetahs Head Coach Amin Nasir will have noted that he is tied with Patrick Vallée this season with both gaffers notching a win, a draw and a defeat against each other.

Tonight though, Amin Nasir will have to face the Jaguars potentially without Diego Gama who is struggling to be fit for tonight’s tie. Nonetheless, he still has Geison Moura in the side and he can threaten at any given time.

Each time the two sides meet, the game has always been an explosive and fiery affair and that fact will not change tonight as both fight for the right to be in the Starhub League Cup final. Don’t miss it.

See you there!