Kambing FC: D2D Sports Sunday 3pm / 5pm League: Division 4 Match 1 vs FC Corpus Christi :3-1 Win

HT: 1-0 FT: 3-1
Scorers (Assists)
Syafiq (Omar) 1st half
Akim (Fazli) 2nd half
Syaifudean (Fazli) 2nd half
Man Of The Match
Imran (rock solid) - 10 SMS votes
Akim - 2 (thank you, matchwinner goal I assume)
Muhammad - 1 (impressive debut for team)
Wilson (GK)

Shafi - Calvin - Imran - Rahman

Omar - Azman - Fazli - Rafeeq

Khairul - Syaifudean

Subs:
Akim
Kevin
Azhari
Muhammad
Karim
Huang
Syafiq
Though Kambing Fc was formed purely as a base for many seeking to play week in week out football, I had always envisioned that one day we will play competitively and perhaps grow, both as players and men, together as a team. I am sure many of you do so too. On 19th April a dream turned into reality, as it marked the start of KFC's 11 a-side competitive involvement with our participation into the D2D Sunday 3/5pm league in the 4th Division. Many thanks to the contributions of the other half of the team management, helping to ensure our smooth and maybe eventual foray into the domain of competition, which proved a catalyst to the transition of a ragged team of players into a more organised unit. Not forgetting of course the INDIVIDUALS, whom self sacrifice, passion and understanding (both girls and boys) have helped make the team what it is today.

We arrived on the pitch at Mayflower a little bit early and the heat was intense. The humidity made it all the more unbearable. We werent sure what to expect for our first match of the league as we havent seen anyone from the team play.

THE FIRST HALF

So let me lay out the starting formation. Playing a 442 formation, Wilson was goalkeeper, Imran and CAlvin partnered in the heart of defence, Shafi started out at right back while I was left back. Fazli and Azman were our central midfielders for the day, flanked by Rafeeq on the left and Omar on the right. Syafiq and Khai played up front. Subs were Huang, Mus, Azhari, Muhammad, Kevin and DEAn.

The match started with us being given the biting reality of the moment - we were in a football match, not a walk in the park. Things were pretty even as FCCC looked to be rather dangerous in their attacks, drawing first blood, taking shots at our goal and the tide was with them the first few minutes. We managed to break away from pressure with steady defending and nervy clearances. It would be disastrous to have conceded a goal early, as it would mean a mountain to climb, considering not only having to fight off the one goal disadvantage (though many in the team were confident of winning from being a goal down due to some prior event happening on the other side of the globe).

While Fazli was having a jittery start, Azman was doing well holding the midfield line or at least stopping the flow of their attacks short with timely deflections and tackles. Rafeeq was creating a certain level of menace on the left, and even in a more advanced position up front. Having regained posession for the team on the left and looking for a passing option, I found Rafeeq exploiting the space created by their irregular defence line with a long looping ball. Rafeeq did well to let the ball run and squeezed in a shot that cracked the crossbar. The FCCC Gk went scurrying back to put just enough to palm a headed ball from Dean who was on hand to pounce the rebound. That was a real chance that should have went in the back of the net.

Fret not, because just before the break Omar came to 'BEAUTIFULLY split the wrong-footed FCCC defence with a well executed pass that came from absolutely nowhere from this world' to release Syafiq with space only to miss again... WAit a minute, he actually scored, and credit to him for making the space for himself and making the run. 1-0 to the Kambings, and no, it wasnt easy to break the deadlock. We needed the little bit of luck that seems to shy away from us in recent matches.

2nd HALF

After the break Kambing FC was playing more like how we are used to play - with a certain level of complacency, thinking we have broken the opposition down with our goal. Truth was, our first goal was a little bit lucky, although it could be seen coming. Muhammad, starting in the Central midfield role was lively, displayin good vision to involve the team. Neither team took control of the half, though KFC looked a little bit more dangerous, in having chances and wasting them either by indecisive finishing or poor decision making. For one, i know i was guilty of the latter.

Just then, from out of the blue, or grey, for the matter, a speculative long shot turned to become a stunning goal, driven with power dipping in towards the far side of Wilson's net. Well thats more like it. 1-1 and game on. Seems like we have developed this habit to turn off when things are going for us. Well we like to play in style right? A flurry of substitutions were made, and Fazly was pushed to left back while Mus was striker for the day.

Seemed like the substitutions worked. Fazli was having a smashing time, stopping their counter attacks on their right flank and regaining posession for the team to throw everything we have got. Syafiq then broke free on the right, while looking up found Mus, who was always ready to pounce, on the far post with a cross to the head. That looked a certain goal, but he couldnt guide the ball to the net. Earlier Mus won a cross from a corner with a free header, though that time he was able to guide it goalwards, but only straight to the keeper.

Time to press and throw whatever we've got at them, and Karim came on to partner Mus in attack. Karim's fresh pair of legs and determined aggression unsettled the FCCC defence quite a bit and soon enough, the labour of our attack department bore fruit. A Fazli centred ball saw Karim attacking it near post, having a touch to wrongfoot the FCCC defence for yet another MUS POUNCE. THis time, it was registered in the scoresheet. Dean would later on add to the tally with an angled shot that beat the keeper into the corner of the net.
Match ended 3-1, and the scoreline flattered us quite a bit. It was a bit too close for comfort.

Rahman