Wilson (GK)
Saidi - Mus - Akim - Shafi
Omar - Farhan - Helmi - Syafiq
Syaifudean - Kelvin
Subs:
Bei - GK
Kevin - RB
Rahman - CM
Huang - Str
Scorers:
Dean
p25 w5 d6 l14 f49 a86
Saidi - Mus - Akim - Shafi
Omar - Farhan - Helmi - Syafiq
Syaifudean - Kelvin
Subs:
Bei - GK
Kevin - RB
Rahman - CM
Huang - Str
Scorers:
Dean
p25 w5 d6 l14 f49 a86
I am still amazed sitting down typing the word 'lose'.
The question: How did we lose?
At the end of the game, I was reminded by a certain wretched Man Utd performance that took place 2 nights ago. If anyone had watched that game, you will have known how in the 1st half Man Utd did not sniff at goal. Ditto for our team. Except it lasted virtually the entire game.
As our 9-men opponents gradually got 2 more to play, we probably gave them some face and were a little cautious. 11 on 11 now and...
Dean shot superbly to put us 1-0 ahead. What made the goal even more brilliant was that it was created with one of the best well-worked moves I have seen from our team. It started from my side of defence and as we worked the ball way up from the right flank, Dean got in an angled shot that gave the goalkeeper absolutely no chance.
Start of a goal fiesta perhaps? Unfortunately, the pitch was very rotten and our passing suffered as a result.
Helmi was unable to put on his passing shoes and with his boots also wrecked, he was not able to conjure his playmaking skills and even suffered an injury at the end. The condition of the pitch also meant we depended a lot on individual trickery, Omar especially mesmerizing some of us, then again he has been one of the best players in our team. Syafiq looked a little lightweight down the left flank but he did make some good runs from the left and provided some good early crosses though no one was at hand to grab the opportunity. Farhan tried to link up midfield and attack with good surging runs though I would still have preferred him down the flank. Dean and Kelvin, their first game in striking partnership, did not really impress together, in part due to the pitch I would think, but some hard running and burst of pace would really trouble opponents on a good day. Dean was especially menacing at the start of the second half as he played on the left flank in a 4-5-1 formation. Rahman, as a substitute, anchored the midfield though his fitness has been a little suspect recently.
The midfield and attack do look good on paper, yet they were very toothless when it came to shooting at goal and it would also help if they support the defence when opponents counter attacked, which as Mus and I would testify, may find ourselves outnumbered 6 to 4 (that is the entire defence including a good debut from Saidi) at times. Only Omar was doing a lot of defending as much as he was attacking, his fitness a envy to all.
As the defence try to hang on a little more before end of half time, our opponents, having slowly crept into the game, equalized. Just before the end of the match, they struck the most cruel and sharpest blade into our hearts (mine for sure given my reaction immediately after) with the winning goal from a corner where two unmarked men at the back post stood. As Kelvin pointed out, his frustration evident as he started to drop into midfield for the last quarter of the game, what were 3 of our men doing upfront when there is a corner to defend.
We were also undone by some poor refereeing decisions which has always been a constant source of irritation for some of our games. But I have learned to live with it.
I still felt we were the better team this day and would have love to head into a 2 month break with a win. Yet here we are on a 2 game losing streak. Maybe the break will do us good... as if... Hari Raya food all around, who can resist!
The question: How did we lose?
At the end of the game, I was reminded by a certain wretched Man Utd performance that took place 2 nights ago. If anyone had watched that game, you will have known how in the 1st half Man Utd did not sniff at goal. Ditto for our team. Except it lasted virtually the entire game.
As our 9-men opponents gradually got 2 more to play, we probably gave them some face and were a little cautious. 11 on 11 now and...
Dean shot superbly to put us 1-0 ahead. What made the goal even more brilliant was that it was created with one of the best well-worked moves I have seen from our team. It started from my side of defence and as we worked the ball way up from the right flank, Dean got in an angled shot that gave the goalkeeper absolutely no chance.
Start of a goal fiesta perhaps? Unfortunately, the pitch was very rotten and our passing suffered as a result.
Helmi was unable to put on his passing shoes and with his boots also wrecked, he was not able to conjure his playmaking skills and even suffered an injury at the end. The condition of the pitch also meant we depended a lot on individual trickery, Omar especially mesmerizing some of us, then again he has been one of the best players in our team. Syafiq looked a little lightweight down the left flank but he did make some good runs from the left and provided some good early crosses though no one was at hand to grab the opportunity. Farhan tried to link up midfield and attack with good surging runs though I would still have preferred him down the flank. Dean and Kelvin, their first game in striking partnership, did not really impress together, in part due to the pitch I would think, but some hard running and burst of pace would really trouble opponents on a good day. Dean was especially menacing at the start of the second half as he played on the left flank in a 4-5-1 formation. Rahman, as a substitute, anchored the midfield though his fitness has been a little suspect recently.
The midfield and attack do look good on paper, yet they were very toothless when it came to shooting at goal and it would also help if they support the defence when opponents counter attacked, which as Mus and I would testify, may find ourselves outnumbered 6 to 4 (that is the entire defence including a good debut from Saidi) at times. Only Omar was doing a lot of defending as much as he was attacking, his fitness a envy to all.
As the defence try to hang on a little more before end of half time, our opponents, having slowly crept into the game, equalized. Just before the end of the match, they struck the most cruel and sharpest blade into our hearts (mine for sure given my reaction immediately after) with the winning goal from a corner where two unmarked men at the back post stood. As Kelvin pointed out, his frustration evident as he started to drop into midfield for the last quarter of the game, what were 3 of our men doing upfront when there is a corner to defend.
We were also undone by some poor refereeing decisions which has always been a constant source of irritation for some of our games. But I have learned to live with it.
I still felt we were the better team this day and would have love to head into a 2 month break with a win. Yet here we are on a 2 game losing streak. Maybe the break will do us good... as if... Hari Raya food all around, who can resist!
akim
pictures uploading soon - there were some bubbles who had confirmed with me for this game, just inform me in advance if you can't make it, no worries, but tell someone... - Happy Fasting Month to all Muslims and enjoy your crazy shopping spree! - We will have an outing soon...
pictures uploading soon - there were some bubbles who had confirmed with me for this game, just inform me in advance if you can't make it, no worries, but tell someone... - Happy Fasting Month to all Muslims and enjoy your crazy shopping spree! - We will have an outing soon...