In form Bulls face goal shy youngsters

W.Ng
info@sleague.com

Gombak United's match against Young Lions on Thursday night looks to be set against a rather curious backdrop, with the visitors perhaps more satisfied with the defeat in their last match than the hosts with the draw in theirs.

While grabbing a share of the points against one of the league’s top sides would ordinarily be the sort of opportunity most teams in the league would jump at, Gombak gave up their 100% winning record and conceded their first competitive goal this season in playing to a draw with Home United.

Young Lions, meanwhile, could derive some cause for cheer from their defeat to SAFFC last week.

The loss at Jalan Besar might have been the young team’s first of the season, but Obadin Aikhena’s 68th-minute effort gave hope to a team that has come under some fire for appearing thin upfront, and which had managed to find the back of the net just once in three games prior.

The Warriors’ fatigue in having only just returned from Shanghai where they played their opening AFC Champions League game with local side Shenhua notwithstanding, the relatively inexperienced hosts can take pride from the manner in which they pushed their seven-time title-winning visitors all the way.

But for all the urgency in their play, Young Lions coach Terry Pathamanathan is aware that the wins will only come if his side can finish off their chances, and admits that it is an issue which he has sought to address.

"Our finishing has not been up to the mark, and it has cost us quite a few points over the last four games.

"To be fair to the boys, they are just being exposed to a level of football that is quite competitive and quite pressurising for them.

"As I always say, it is a learning process, but time is not with them. They will have to move to a higher level of football played at a quick pace, they will have to learn from every game, and pick themselves up fast.

"In training, I have spent time focusing on the attacking and finishing, but somehow in the game it doesn't come easy to them.

"They are still getting into that kind of play, and we need to figure out how to really put them under pressure in training and teach them to take the opportunities.

"My attitude has always been an attacking one, and as a team, we try to move forward as much as possible.

"I have given them a lot of encouragement to move forward and attack, to create the chances.

"We have to see after every game where our shortcomings are, and what kind of training we need to get our attackers to be fast-thinking, and to make the most of their chances."

With the SEA Games at the end of the year in mind, the former national captain was also pleased by the exposure his young charges have had recently.

"All the matches so far have been very competitive, and the boys have shown a gradual improvement.

"A lot of them have tasted some kind of playing time, and it is an opportunity for them to show what they are capable of, and to stake a claim for a place in the SEA Games team."

With Gombak and SAFFC the league's most in-form teams at the moment, the Young Lions' having to play the two sides in succession is certainly unenviable. Pathmanathan highlighted what he saw as the main differences between the two sides.

"Our next opponent is quite different from the previous one.

"Gombak tends to play a physical game, they have robust and highly physical players, and it would be good for the boys to show their physical attributes in the game.

"They have not really tasted a physically challenging game where they have been challenged hard, so it will be another opportunity for them, to learn how physical this game can be.

"It is time for them to stand up to the challenge and show their physical side."