--------------Bei----------------
Wilson- --Mus- -- Azmi-- Shafi
Rafeeq - Azman- Azhari- Farhan
---------Kelvin- Huang-----------
subs.
Rahman
Shafiq
Hasif
It was 13th July, and if both the teams were superstitious enough, they would most probably believed on the effect of this curse on the game itself. For one, we were unlucky, but so was the opponent. To sum it all, it was a tight, hard-fought game, that could swing either way. Unlucky as booth teams might seem to be, The result showed no disfavour to either.
The opponent was a cluster of players, whom have been playing for some time longer than us, made up of primarily ex-Juying secondary members and an old friend of mine from Pioneer Secondary. The last time i recalled playing with a few of them that they were skilful, quick and played good football.
The game started late (about 25 mins late) and i was left out of the starting eleven due to my lack of game punctuality.
The opponent looked lively, and the team seemed a little bit lacking of pace in the early stages of the game, which could be blamed on the lack of an actual warm-up routine as a team. We were a little bit under pressure, though not hanging on precariously to the game. They caught us during our most vulnerable state, pouncing on a lose ball on the centre of the edge of the box before striking home a shot that would require nothing short of a 'Peter Cech' to stop.
This was perhaps the turning point of the game. Unlike in other matches where heads start to fall and shoulder start to droop upon the concession of the first goal, the team fought back to search and force in a goal. I came in for Wilson whom had given his all on the right side of defence. As soon i came in, i was given a surprise by the West Rover's left winger whom had a searing pace packed into his small frame. He left me for dead before Mus came in to help cover his right-back. That was the last time we would see him do that. ill close him down.
Soon after we got our first goal. Cutting and stopping short the offensive wave of our opponent, we launched a counter attack which found its way to Faarhan on the left wing. The Rovers Keeper anticipated a cut in, but Farhan was quick in his assessment and coolly slot in the ball where keeper failed to cover. such composure in a fine finish.
It wasnt smooth sailing for the team though. We had several defnsive scares due to the sheer quality of the Rovers players. give them a little space, and they will punish you. This they didint do, but it was getting close. Good brave goalkeeping thwarted them, while slightly off finishing that could give the keeper no chance at all undid them too. They were getting unlucky.
However the midfield gave them a good fight and the experience of the people in the middle of the park sometimes proved to be too much for the Rovers players to handle. The midfield was gettin more consistent, and Azhari was proving his value to the team with a stellar performance. Azman stringed and sprayed passes wide while the two wingers chased down every loose ball they could smell while also helping the defence. This carried on into the 2nd half as the two teams battled it out with the opposition and also the weather. It was getting searing hot but the players from both side kept it tight.
In a delightful moment, Kelvin from the left side of the Rovers Box, with his back facing the goal, executed a delightful backheel to release Rafeeq bearing down on the Keeper. Rafeeq matched the backheel with a superb finish. A moment of brilliance to turn the game around perhaps? Rovers was getting unlucky.
Then out of the blue, the game took another turn when somehow the ball managed to find a way past Wilson. How? im not sure and thus would be a question that only Wilson can answer. lol. till then well continue our quest for our 5th ever victory.
