Scorers (Assists)
Huang (Amin) 1st half
Farhan (Huang) 1st half
Rafeeq (Karim) 2nd half
Farhan (Akim) 2nd half
Man Of The Match
Amin - 5 (surging runs left flank)
Farhan - 4 (cool, composed and took his 2 goals well)
Huang - 2 (1 goal 1 assist)
Omar - 2 (all-around display attack and defend)
Rafeeq - 1 (great long shot)
Shafi - 1 (important goal line save)
Firul - 1 (good long passes)
Yellow card:
Rahman 2nd half
Wilson (GK)
Shafi - Mubarak - Akim - Firul
Farhan - Muhammad - Azman - Amin
Rafeeq - Syaifudean
Subs:
Farid (debut)
Omar
Kelvin
Azhari
Rahman
Huang
Karim
I have got to write this personal note before I begin the proper match review. Somebody has got to remind me again why is it that I torture myself playing at centre-back when it is clearly not my best position. I cannot recall when was it exactly that I decided to permanently place myself in this position for KFC. So beat me over the head with it and tell me that I am simply not good enough to play like Lim Tong Hai. I can only remember that I was willing to sacrifice my other preferred positions somewhere along the way when other much better players started to play for this team and I have never managed to venture further upfield or sideways again since apart from the extremely rare occasions when I had the chance to do so. I missed those days. Even playing for my other team, Team of Fate, on Saturday mornings, for whom I consider myself a regular right-back, I am not having much luck nor joy to play outfield and am now being deployed as GK in recent weeks because they cannot find a GK for games. The mistakes I made today resulted in us dropping precious points yet again. Not for the 1st game in our rookie league campaign, it is becomingly increasingly clear we are losing out on where it mattered most in the best of all soccer teams; central defence. I make no excuses, I am trying my best, but it is becoming too inevitable that we sort out this position quickly before I go crazy and low morale-wise, the game against the Ultras where we lost 2 points at the last minute drove me close to depression after the match, and I hope we find ourselves good replacements in time for next week's match.
Berating myself is probably done for now, though I am sure it will crop up as you read this review.
So onto the match review. We lost 3-2 to LCDF in the last encounter, our 2nd league game, about 2 months ago which sparked a 3 match losing run in D2D league. Credit must be given to LCDF for taking their chances then but I always felt we have a strong team, which can muster a worthy challenge to any other team. 2 wins and 2 draws since then, apart from the narrow Cup defeat against Huat FC, is not exactly a out-of-sorts set of results. So that defeat against LCDF only motivated me before the start of this match as it was essentially the same core of players playing today.
Some motivation it turned out to be.
After rain disrupted our game last week, it was not surprising to me that we were very lethargic coming back from the uncalled-for one week break. Fitness-wise, we were not looking up to scratch. We did markedly improve as the match wore on. Muhammad had an injury scare early on, enforcing his withdrawal but he would be fine later. Wilson was coming out from his goal-line quite often to pick up loose balls, punted long over the defence on many occasions. The flanks were being exploited too as LCDF tried to initiate many attacks although it was broken down due to lack of manpower rushing up to support the attack and when they had chances from corners, we cleared them. A couple of my goal-kicks did not exactly inspire confidence in my own team which led to one LCDF attack that started from inside our own halfway line but the short goal-kicks were far better options.
Pathetic.
LCDF took a 1-0 lead, perhaps ten, fifteen, minutes into the match. When we had a free-kick from deep in our half on the right flank, I can still recall we had Farhan and Shafi on the same flank further upfield and I can remember my intention was to pump it up to them. Some pumping it turned out to be as it went straight to the chest of their striker, not on either flanks but dead center at the circle at the halfway line inside our half. The striker, who was a threat for the most part of the match before he was dismissed, found an empty route to goal, took his chance well and slot it goalward beyond the onrushing Wilson. That goal immediately started a quick debate about reshuffling our defence. Firul would swap places with me, not for long though. Before the re-reshuffling took place, we finally managed to conjure up some decent offence of our own, not that we were not doing so before. Amin was having much freedom on the left flank and Farhan was more or less having the same on the right. We were still not finding our mark though as ten-men LCDF got back behind the ball well to snuff out any potential threat at the first layer of our offence.
Such defensive organization saw LCDF doubled their lead. Another long punt, which we had trouble dealing with throughout as they were taller, this time in a central position, had them bring the ball down into control. That started a direct run towards goal and after Firul and Mubarak got into a tangle, their striker was en route to goal yet again. Yet again the ball was in the back of the net after the scorer won the 1-on-1 challenge against Wilson.
It was 0-3 when another long punt had Rahman backpedalling to head the ball away from imminent danger but unfortunately the ball fell nicely for the striker on a direct path to goal yet again. I was the covering defender but try as I might, I could not chase him down as he had already been given a headstart. Again 1-on-1 with Wilson, he grabbed another goal from route 1 football.
We then began our customary substitutions. That somehow renewed life into our performance as LCDF opted to take a sit-back approach knowing we are chasing the game, and it was still only 1st half!
It was Mubarak's (Muhammad's?) crossfield deep pass from defence which eluded the LCDF defender, into Amin's direction on the left flank, with plenty of room. Amin's low cross into the penalty box was not convincing as it looked to land safely in the GK's arms but Huang was opportunistic enough to steal the ball away from the GK before he could pick it up, and Huang had an empty net to score his 2nd league goal.
1-3. Fightback on.
Huang then turned provider to make it 2-3. His weighted lob pass, from just beyond our half, was seemingly a tad too heavy but Farhan's determination, as Huang had displayed in that 1st goal, had the LCDF GK committed a gaffe when he failed to clear the ball, and just as Huang stole the ball away earlier, Farhan did the same to score and restore some belief in the team. Game on.
LCDF would regained their 2-goal advantage at 2-4 minutes before the break. Yet another punt(!) found its way over Firul's head and as I covered him, I was very slow to clear the ball away and the same striker outpaced me much too easily to take the ball beyond my reach. For the 4th time in the match, Wilson was unable to win the 1-on-1 challenge, and I watched with grimace, as the ball sailed into the net. Such situations are hard for a GK to thwart anyway, unless you are Peter Schmeichel, but I had undid myself, and the team's effort, in the first place. No words can describe the gut-wrenching, gnawing, lung-ripping feeling I had inside when that goal went in. Maybe I do have the words after all.
I just wanted to be replaced by anyone. Anyone at all. Unfortunately, the stubborn part in me chose to fight on, bane of my life. The 2nd half started with me being shifted out as left-back.
Going into the 2nd half, our opponents finally had an extra man to make it a proper 11-on-11 match. We were having much possession and yet again, as with the 1st half, Amin was having much time on the ball and within the opening minutes of the restart, already had 3 shots on goal, much to Rahman's and Muhammad's annoyance who were in the box and was waiting for the delivery from Amin. Omar, a 2nd half attendee, was also lighting up KFC with a very lifely display, combining with Rahman, Muhammad and Shafi on the right flank. Syaifudean was often at the end of the service that was provided by the quartet and one such service saw him rounding the GK on a few occasions, one of which cannoned off the crossbar. Dean, top scorer in the league for KFC, surprisingly finished the match without a goal.
There was some measure of controversy when Rahman earned the first yellow card of the match. It was his 1st tackle but the referee would be fair and cautioned an LCDF opponent moments later. We had a huge advantage, if it can be called that, when LCDF had the same man sent off for a 2nd bookable offence. But the players needed to remember we were playing a 10-man LCDF team when we went 3-0 down in the 1st half.
We put all that aside and focused on the game. It was the very unlikely quartet of Azhari, Karim, Rafeeq and myself who started the most significant play in the match that led to an out-of-this-world goal. Azhari and myself had exhanged passes in our half and seconds later, the ball was handed over to Karim close to the penalty box in the opponents' half. Karim pulled off a crucial one touch pass to set up Rafeeq outside and across the box and Rafeeq did not need any invitation to astonishigly score a wonder goal that was beyond the reach of the replacement diving GK.
3-4. We had again narrowed the scoreline within a goal.
When the score was all square at 4-4, I would like to think I finally redeemed myself when I played a part in the build-up to that goal. I had penetrated deep inside the LCDF penalty box, I could not recall the circumstances preceding it, but I remember bamboozling the defender on the byline with a little trick of my own, which was unfortunately missed by all and sundry. I had toepoked the ball much too heavily across the penalty area however where I saw Azman, Omar and Farhan lying in wait to strike, but fortunately, Farhan, the last in line of the 3 players, received the ball and struck clinically with a very well-taken goal with his left foot.
Our opponents did have opportunities of their own thereafter as we encouraged each other not to let the result slip away. One such chance came from a corner. As with the game against FC Corpus C a couple of weeks ago, I was again the player warranting unwanted attention when I came up against a very tall player who was able to follow-up on the good corner with his head, and as the bullet header headed towards goal, Shafi was at the goal-line to clear it away; unlike that other game when the ball did go in. The next shot that came forced a finger-tip save from Wilson.
Two heart-stopping moments and I would have simply died if that tall player had headed into goal!
As we attempted to snatch a result of our own, time finally ran out as both teams shared the spoils with a highly entertaining encounter. LCDF did well to secure a result despite playing with 10 men for most of the match, at one time destined for all 3 points with a 3-0 lead. They adopted a classic route 1 approach to the game which was effective given our non-dominance in the air and their taller height that resulted in 3 of the 4 goals. They also had a defence which was organized and determined to ensure their striker, just of enough ability perhaps, needed only one opportunity to counter and strike.
As for their long punts, I had mentioned this before in a review actually, I would like to mention a tactic that might work in such situations. As probably observed in the 2nd half, when I played much much much (much) better at left-back, I love coming from deep to intercept those high balls and won them in the air on quite a few occasions. The best part is that I don't believe the opponent was aware of it. Just my opinion.
One positive that can be taken from this game is that we had 4 different assists leading to the goal. Omar was also a huge factor in the 2nd half with his all-around display to help Shafi defend and also to go forward with the ball on numerous occasions. Firul and Mubarak were major assets with their distribution from the centre of defence. Unfortunately, this will be Mubarak's last game for awhile. Wilson, on his return after some time, was also instrumental to keep the ball out when he could, that fingertip save late in the 2nd half crucial to help secure the draw. He was not at fault for the 4 goals conceded but in other situations, he could be called upon to make saves. Another positive is that it is also now 5 games since we last tasted defeat in the league.
On a personal level,I would like to think my performance in the 1st half would surely have finally vindicated my non-selection as a centre-back. As much as I would like to help the team where I can, I am not really helping if I know that it is beyond my capabilities. Even though we strive to play well irregardless the results, if a black sheep like myself played that badly, then what is the point of playing at all if it leads to a non-result. So I hope you all find central defenders and take me away from my misery soon, hopefully in next week's game. Watch out for the SMS. Coming to handphones near you.
akim
Berating myself is probably done for now, though I am sure it will crop up as you read this review.
So onto the match review. We lost 3-2 to LCDF in the last encounter, our 2nd league game, about 2 months ago which sparked a 3 match losing run in D2D league. Credit must be given to LCDF for taking their chances then but I always felt we have a strong team, which can muster a worthy challenge to any other team. 2 wins and 2 draws since then, apart from the narrow Cup defeat against Huat FC, is not exactly a out-of-sorts set of results. So that defeat against LCDF only motivated me before the start of this match as it was essentially the same core of players playing today.
Some motivation it turned out to be.
After rain disrupted our game last week, it was not surprising to me that we were very lethargic coming back from the uncalled-for one week break. Fitness-wise, we were not looking up to scratch. We did markedly improve as the match wore on. Muhammad had an injury scare early on, enforcing his withdrawal but he would be fine later. Wilson was coming out from his goal-line quite often to pick up loose balls, punted long over the defence on many occasions. The flanks were being exploited too as LCDF tried to initiate many attacks although it was broken down due to lack of manpower rushing up to support the attack and when they had chances from corners, we cleared them. A couple of my goal-kicks did not exactly inspire confidence in my own team which led to one LCDF attack that started from inside our own halfway line but the short goal-kicks were far better options.
Pathetic.
LCDF took a 1-0 lead, perhaps ten, fifteen, minutes into the match. When we had a free-kick from deep in our half on the right flank, I can still recall we had Farhan and Shafi on the same flank further upfield and I can remember my intention was to pump it up to them. Some pumping it turned out to be as it went straight to the chest of their striker, not on either flanks but dead center at the circle at the halfway line inside our half. The striker, who was a threat for the most part of the match before he was dismissed, found an empty route to goal, took his chance well and slot it goalward beyond the onrushing Wilson. That goal immediately started a quick debate about reshuffling our defence. Firul would swap places with me, not for long though. Before the re-reshuffling took place, we finally managed to conjure up some decent offence of our own, not that we were not doing so before. Amin was having much freedom on the left flank and Farhan was more or less having the same on the right. We were still not finding our mark though as ten-men LCDF got back behind the ball well to snuff out any potential threat at the first layer of our offence.
Such defensive organization saw LCDF doubled their lead. Another long punt, which we had trouble dealing with throughout as they were taller, this time in a central position, had them bring the ball down into control. That started a direct run towards goal and after Firul and Mubarak got into a tangle, their striker was en route to goal yet again. Yet again the ball was in the back of the net after the scorer won the 1-on-1 challenge against Wilson.
It was 0-3 when another long punt had Rahman backpedalling to head the ball away from imminent danger but unfortunately the ball fell nicely for the striker on a direct path to goal yet again. I was the covering defender but try as I might, I could not chase him down as he had already been given a headstart. Again 1-on-1 with Wilson, he grabbed another goal from route 1 football.
We then began our customary substitutions. That somehow renewed life into our performance as LCDF opted to take a sit-back approach knowing we are chasing the game, and it was still only 1st half!
It was Mubarak's (Muhammad's?) crossfield deep pass from defence which eluded the LCDF defender, into Amin's direction on the left flank, with plenty of room. Amin's low cross into the penalty box was not convincing as it looked to land safely in the GK's arms but Huang was opportunistic enough to steal the ball away from the GK before he could pick it up, and Huang had an empty net to score his 2nd league goal.
1-3. Fightback on.
Huang then turned provider to make it 2-3. His weighted lob pass, from just beyond our half, was seemingly a tad too heavy but Farhan's determination, as Huang had displayed in that 1st goal, had the LCDF GK committed a gaffe when he failed to clear the ball, and just as Huang stole the ball away earlier, Farhan did the same to score and restore some belief in the team. Game on.
LCDF would regained their 2-goal advantage at 2-4 minutes before the break. Yet another punt(!) found its way over Firul's head and as I covered him, I was very slow to clear the ball away and the same striker outpaced me much too easily to take the ball beyond my reach. For the 4th time in the match, Wilson was unable to win the 1-on-1 challenge, and I watched with grimace, as the ball sailed into the net. Such situations are hard for a GK to thwart anyway, unless you are Peter Schmeichel, but I had undid myself, and the team's effort, in the first place. No words can describe the gut-wrenching, gnawing, lung-ripping feeling I had inside when that goal went in. Maybe I do have the words after all.
I just wanted to be replaced by anyone. Anyone at all. Unfortunately, the stubborn part in me chose to fight on, bane of my life. The 2nd half started with me being shifted out as left-back.
Going into the 2nd half, our opponents finally had an extra man to make it a proper 11-on-11 match. We were having much possession and yet again, as with the 1st half, Amin was having much time on the ball and within the opening minutes of the restart, already had 3 shots on goal, much to Rahman's and Muhammad's annoyance who were in the box and was waiting for the delivery from Amin. Omar, a 2nd half attendee, was also lighting up KFC with a very lifely display, combining with Rahman, Muhammad and Shafi on the right flank. Syaifudean was often at the end of the service that was provided by the quartet and one such service saw him rounding the GK on a few occasions, one of which cannoned off the crossbar. Dean, top scorer in the league for KFC, surprisingly finished the match without a goal.
There was some measure of controversy when Rahman earned the first yellow card of the match. It was his 1st tackle but the referee would be fair and cautioned an LCDF opponent moments later. We had a huge advantage, if it can be called that, when LCDF had the same man sent off for a 2nd bookable offence. But the players needed to remember we were playing a 10-man LCDF team when we went 3-0 down in the 1st half.
We put all that aside and focused on the game. It was the very unlikely quartet of Azhari, Karim, Rafeeq and myself who started the most significant play in the match that led to an out-of-this-world goal. Azhari and myself had exhanged passes in our half and seconds later, the ball was handed over to Karim close to the penalty box in the opponents' half. Karim pulled off a crucial one touch pass to set up Rafeeq outside and across the box and Rafeeq did not need any invitation to astonishigly score a wonder goal that was beyond the reach of the replacement diving GK.
3-4. We had again narrowed the scoreline within a goal.
When the score was all square at 4-4, I would like to think I finally redeemed myself when I played a part in the build-up to that goal. I had penetrated deep inside the LCDF penalty box, I could not recall the circumstances preceding it, but I remember bamboozling the defender on the byline with a little trick of my own, which was unfortunately missed by all and sundry. I had toepoked the ball much too heavily across the penalty area however where I saw Azman, Omar and Farhan lying in wait to strike, but fortunately, Farhan, the last in line of the 3 players, received the ball and struck clinically with a very well-taken goal with his left foot.
Our opponents did have opportunities of their own thereafter as we encouraged each other not to let the result slip away. One such chance came from a corner. As with the game against FC Corpus C a couple of weeks ago, I was again the player warranting unwanted attention when I came up against a very tall player who was able to follow-up on the good corner with his head, and as the bullet header headed towards goal, Shafi was at the goal-line to clear it away; unlike that other game when the ball did go in. The next shot that came forced a finger-tip save from Wilson.
Two heart-stopping moments and I would have simply died if that tall player had headed into goal!
As we attempted to snatch a result of our own, time finally ran out as both teams shared the spoils with a highly entertaining encounter. LCDF did well to secure a result despite playing with 10 men for most of the match, at one time destined for all 3 points with a 3-0 lead. They adopted a classic route 1 approach to the game which was effective given our non-dominance in the air and their taller height that resulted in 3 of the 4 goals. They also had a defence which was organized and determined to ensure their striker, just of enough ability perhaps, needed only one opportunity to counter and strike.
As for their long punts, I had mentioned this before in a review actually, I would like to mention a tactic that might work in such situations. As probably observed in the 2nd half, when I played much much much (much) better at left-back, I love coming from deep to intercept those high balls and won them in the air on quite a few occasions. The best part is that I don't believe the opponent was aware of it. Just my opinion.
One positive that can be taken from this game is that we had 4 different assists leading to the goal. Omar was also a huge factor in the 2nd half with his all-around display to help Shafi defend and also to go forward with the ball on numerous occasions. Firul and Mubarak were major assets with their distribution from the centre of defence. Unfortunately, this will be Mubarak's last game for awhile. Wilson, on his return after some time, was also instrumental to keep the ball out when he could, that fingertip save late in the 2nd half crucial to help secure the draw. He was not at fault for the 4 goals conceded but in other situations, he could be called upon to make saves. Another positive is that it is also now 5 games since we last tasted defeat in the league.
On a personal level,I would like to think my performance in the 1st half would surely have finally vindicated my non-selection as a centre-back. As much as I would like to help the team where I can, I am not really helping if I know that it is beyond my capabilities. Even though we strive to play well irregardless the results, if a black sheep like myself played that badly, then what is the point of playing at all if it leads to a non-result. So I hope you all find central defenders and take me away from my misery soon, hopefully in next week's game. Watch out for the SMS. Coming to handphones near you.
akim