Wilson (GK)
Shafi - Akim - Firul - Karim
Omar - Kelvin - Rahman - Helmi - Farhan
Huang
Subs:
Syafiq - LM
Scorers:
Helmi (pen)
Farhan (pen)
p24 w5 d6 l13 f48 a84
Shafi - Akim - Firul - Karim
Omar - Kelvin - Rahman - Helmi - Farhan
Huang
Subs:
Syafiq - LM
Scorers:
Helmi (pen)
Farhan (pen)
p24 w5 d6 l13 f48 a84
On a rain-soaked pitch on a cool Sunday evening, the team set out to play this Sabah team for the 2nd time in history. Previously on 23 Mar, Huang equalized late in the match to earn a 1 - 1 draw. Coincidentally this was my 3rd personal encounter with them having played against them with my other team some time ago.
Our team were missing some regular players but we were fortunate enough to still have a player on the bench. In defence, we had Firul, in fantastic shape as usual, and Karim, a little shorn of match fitness, returning at center back and left back respectively. Firul had some concerns playing as a centre back but I had no doubts about his ability to adapt.
Personally I felt we were strong enough to win this day, but bearing in mind the condition of the pitch and also having learnt from our previous encounter that the opponents had great shape, fitness and strength, the result may sway either way. Another advantage the opponents had were the number of reserves on their side.
So it was that we managed to play courageously and with spirit, even with the numbers on their side. However we were unable to capitalize on our chances and were also punished for very poor defensive lapses. We did took the lead however when Huang did brilliantly to skip past 3 men when through on goal but was brought down in the penalty area to earn a spot-kick. I instructed Helmi to take it and he did so with aplomb, converting superbly to score his first goal for the team.
However our opponents then made the most of their chances scoring 3 goals at half-time to recover from the deficit. It is to be noted though that two of those goals were due to defensive mistakes and the other should not have been awarded because the scorer was offside.
We went at half-time knowing the game was probably lost but we were not broken because we had been playing well so far. Going into the second half of the match, my only aim was to outscore them, irregardless the scoreline.
Yet we suffered another setback when they scored early for a 4-1 scoreline and try as we might we could not convert the chances that came our way. 2 other goals should not have been awarded for offside but it did not matter as the 4 other goals that they scored were very much clinical finishes which were something we did not match!
The one clinical finish we had though was the way Farhan scored our second penalty though he later admitted that he was a little nervous about it.
So it was that the 8-2 scoreline did not do justice but don't discredit the opponents for taking their chances and with some exquisite goals to boot. Incidentally, it was one of our heaviest defeats as well.
Wilson was disappointed with the goals he conceded (through no fault of his actually) but such is the manner of a team game.
To the team, this I have to say, pick yourself up and stand up for the next game which will be our last till after Hari Raya.
Our team were missing some regular players but we were fortunate enough to still have a player on the bench. In defence, we had Firul, in fantastic shape as usual, and Karim, a little shorn of match fitness, returning at center back and left back respectively. Firul had some concerns playing as a centre back but I had no doubts about his ability to adapt.
Personally I felt we were strong enough to win this day, but bearing in mind the condition of the pitch and also having learnt from our previous encounter that the opponents had great shape, fitness and strength, the result may sway either way. Another advantage the opponents had were the number of reserves on their side.
So it was that we managed to play courageously and with spirit, even with the numbers on their side. However we were unable to capitalize on our chances and were also punished for very poor defensive lapses. We did took the lead however when Huang did brilliantly to skip past 3 men when through on goal but was brought down in the penalty area to earn a spot-kick. I instructed Helmi to take it and he did so with aplomb, converting superbly to score his first goal for the team.
However our opponents then made the most of their chances scoring 3 goals at half-time to recover from the deficit. It is to be noted though that two of those goals were due to defensive mistakes and the other should not have been awarded because the scorer was offside.
We went at half-time knowing the game was probably lost but we were not broken because we had been playing well so far. Going into the second half of the match, my only aim was to outscore them, irregardless the scoreline.
Yet we suffered another setback when they scored early for a 4-1 scoreline and try as we might we could not convert the chances that came our way. 2 other goals should not have been awarded for offside but it did not matter as the 4 other goals that they scored were very much clinical finishes which were something we did not match!
The one clinical finish we had though was the way Farhan scored our second penalty though he later admitted that he was a little nervous about it.
So it was that the 8-2 scoreline did not do justice but don't discredit the opponents for taking their chances and with some exquisite goals to boot. Incidentally, it was one of our heaviest defeats as well.
Wilson was disappointed with the goals he conceded (through no fault of his actually) but such is the manner of a team game.
To the team, this I have to say, pick yourself up and stand up for the next game which will be our last till after Hari Raya.
akim - limited pictures as the weather did not permit it