Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Singapore Football

Make home advantage count, says Hariss

Make home advantage count, says Hariss
PAINFUL MEMORY: 
Former LionsXII players Shahril Ishak (left) and Hariss Harun (right) suffered the agony of missing out on a place in the final, after their penalty shoot-out defeat by ATM. 
PHOTO: TNP FILE

Singapore star and LionsXII old boy hopes players have learnt lesson from pain of 2012

Sazali Abdul Aziz
Sports Correspondent
May 09, 2015 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

Three seasons ago, he was part of a LionsXII team who were seconds from a place in the Malaysia Cup final, only to have it snatched away deep into injury time.

That defeat on penalties by ATM FA still rankles Hariss Harun and the Singapore midfield star, who now plies his trade across the Causeway with Johor Darul Ta'zim, hopes his former teammates have learnt their lesson as they prepare to take on Terengganu in the first leg of the Malaysian FA Cup semi-final at the Jalan Besar Stadium tonight.

Hariss' LionsXII side drew 1-1 with ATM at Jalan Besar and then again in the return leg at Selayang after a 97th-minute goal by ATM striker Marlon James, before being knocked out on spot-kicks.

The 24-year-old said the outcome would have been very different, if they got the job done at home.

"Quite a number of the boys from that team are in the current side so, hopefully, they can prepare for this semi-final against Terengganu better," said Hariss, yesterday.

"In 2012, we didn't get a good result at home and we knew it'd be very tough to get the result we needed in Selayang.

MAN IN CHARGE: (Left to right) Sundramoorthy, Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Zainudin Nordin, FAS vice-president Lim Kia Tong, FAS secretary general Winston Lee
Singapore Football

Sundram takes over as national coach

May 27, 2016

Related Stories

Tampines chief asks FAS for subsidy advance

Fandi and FAS to part ways in April

Hariss: Stronger S.League good for national team

"The Malaysian sides know the LionsXII are very strong at Jalan Besar, where we have the advantage of the artificial pitch and the fans, and the team need to make the most of this.

"Also, if the team are able to keep a clean sheet, it will be a huge advantage."

Former LionsXII skipper Shahril Ishak, who was also a part of the 2012 team, echoed Hariss' point.

Perhaps predictably, from a player who top-scored for the LionsXII in two consecutive seasons, the 31-year-old striker said attack was the way to go.

"It's important the team get goals," said the national captain.

"One is good, but they should try to take a two or even three-goal advantage into the second leg.

"It's going to be an uphill task to try and stop Terengganu from scoring at their place, seeing as how they have so many great attacking players."

In addition to last season's Malaysian Super League (MSL) top scorer Paulo Rangel, the Turtles recently signed talented Malaysian forward Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Issey Nakajima Farran, the Japanese-Canadian attacker who once starred in the S.League for Albirex Niigata.

At least for tonight's match, the Turtles will be missing the suspended Rangel.

Hariss believes vociferous home support can go some way in helping Fandi Ahmad's men vanquish Terengganu.

While the LionsXII's two home games in the FA Cup, against lower-tier sides KL SPA Putrajaya and Johor Darul Ta'zim II, attracted an average 3,800 fans each - or about half the capacity of Jalan Besar - the stakes are much higher now and a much bigger crowd is expected tonight.

Said Hariss: "The fans will definitely come out and support the boys, seeing how they are just one step away from the final. And it'll be a big boost for them.

"I remember in the 2012 Malaysia Cup quarter-finals, we learnt how much home support can really carry the team.

"We lost the first leg 2-1 away in Pahang, but we beat them 2-0 at home in the return leg, in front of a full-house crowd.

"So, like I said before, the first leg is key.

"If the boys can get a good result at home, that spot in the final is theirs."

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

lionsxiihariss harunTerengganuMalaysian FA Cup semi-final first legShahril Ishak

Sazali Abdul Aziz

Sports Correspondent
msazali@sph.com.sg
@SazaliAbdulAziz
Read articles by Sazali Abdul Aziz
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Makansutra: Mad for this moist millennial char kway teow
Makan

Mad for this moist and marvellous char kway teow

Feb 25, 2021
Wild boar drags woman for a metre in Punggol attack
Singapore

Wild boar drags woman for a metre in Punggol attack

Feb 22, 2021
MasterChef Singapore 2 finalists spill the beans
TV

MasterChef hopefuls spill the beans

Feb 25, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E