Man Of The Match
Rahman (5) - robust, tough and determined. enthusiastic hussling and shielding of defence helped to stop many of opposition attacks
Amin (3) - created many chances
Akim (1)
Calvin (1) - an experienced centre back who made his return after some time out (marriage)
Farhan (1)
Fazli (1) - stuck it out in dual roles and getting injured in the process
Helmi (1)
Yellow card:
Huang 2nd half
Wilson (GK)
Akim - Amin - Rashid - Fazli
Farhan - Rahman - Amin - Muhammad - Helmi
Huang
Subs:
Calvin
Firdaus Masdar
Shafirul
Kelvin
Our 2nd season with D2D Sports Sunday 3pm / 5pm League begins in Division 3 as we found ourselves promoted from Division 4. This was due mainly to the upper division teams pulling out. In an expanded 10-man Division 3 league, Samalongkok, Ultras and Macheda, our former Division 3 top three adversaries, had already confirmed their slots via automatic promotion. No matter where we play though, Kambing FC's motto stands tall!
"Kalah menang takper, GAYA MAU ADA! (win lose NVM, STYLE MUZ HAVE!)"
As a co-founder of KFC, and beginning our 3rd year this January, I feel we are ready and primed to establish ourselves as a social but more competitive outfit. We had played two more friendly matches to get some cramps into those legs and to gain some momentum to ensure we would not be brushed aside easily when the league eventually starts. Always bearing in mind that I still want us to enjoy our football no matter what, I do feel we need to make some impression against whichever teams we play. So a friendly match, taking place this Sunday, was planned before the league began. Conveniently, it comes straight after this league defeat against Sarcofago.
Sarcofago, a team that took a year's break from D2D league, is a physically larger and taller opponents. KFC has seen it before from last season against such similar teams like Ultras and La Calle DF. Given that we struggled against such teams last season, Sarcofago was a good test for us.
With former La Calle DF central defender Amin (not Amin the Speedy Gonzalez who started as holding midfielder) on board, Calvin hopefully making a permanent return and Rashid starting his first full league season and even Firul returning from a bad injury, I would like to think we can make up for the loss of NS-bound Imran to work on the one aspect of our team which has always been weak; central defence.
In a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation, Rashid and Amin started in central defence with Fazli and myself taking the full-back slots. Huang, fresh from his 2-header goals exploit last week, was handed the lone striker berth with super wingers Helmi and Farhan flanking him. The central midfield began with Rahman, Amin and Muhammad, the latter being our top league player last season with the most number of assists. We started with 4 substitute players, due to Azhari and Azman pulling out, making it a rare game indeed when we do not have many players on the sidelines.
KFC started very brightly, having the lions' share of possession in Sarcofago's half. The opponents gradually began imposing their superior physical strength and aggression, one high tackle on me left ugly studs mark on my leg after the game. Wilson also suffered an early injury when an opponent injured him on his ankle in an aerial challege that the opponent would never have won. Wilson would later be replaced by Fazli in the first half but he came on in the closing minutes of the match when Fazli himself suffered a back injury following another challenge by the same opponent.
It was still a fair fight though, that never got out of hand. Rahman, man of the match this past week, typified KFC's own brand of physicality with his hussling and tangling with the blue men on the ball. We had great sights of goal but on-target shots were at a premium. When I got in on the physical act with a tackle of my own, I conceded a free-kick. The aerial cross was one which we failed to deal with convincingly and opponents punished our lacklustre defending when they scored to take the lead with a shot from inside the box.
We lifted ourselves, prepare to overcome the deficit, something which we often struggled to do. We responded brilliantly and mounted a fightback. Yet, we were not clinical in front of goal.
The odds became tougher for us to overcome when our opponents extended their lead. A long ball from the right flank sailed crossfield out to the left flank and again we failed to clear convincingly at the first instance. The cross that came in into the penalty box had caught out our defence but there was little danger when the ball seems to creep away from our upright. I rushed back to remove any potential danger and although an opponent rushed back with me, I was favourite to win the ball. Unfortunately, I believed my clearance came off my opponent and it took a freak deflection high and right on the goal-line into goal. That goal stunned KFC into silence as we went into the half-time break 2-0 down.
We started the 2nd half in typical fashion, giving ourselves a good account, and keeping some good possession. Helmi's miss, after being put through on goal from Muhammad's pass, highlighted our profligacy in front of goal. Sarcofago unsurprisingly struck us on the counter-attack, protecting their lead very well with good defending that left Kelvin visibly frustrated before his withdrawal from the game, and his replacement Huang earning a surprise yellow card after back-to-back challenges which had made the referee unhappy. The 2nd half ended goalless despite immense KFC pressure towards the end.
KFC may have ended the game defeated but it was a good test in which we played well. Hopefully, that sets the tone for the remainder of the season. We are here to play as well as we can irregardless the results. We may want to have fun and enjoy the game but we will strive to hold our own in what is already looking to be a competitive Division 3 for KFC.
Rest of results
Akim
"Kalah menang takper, GAYA MAU ADA! (win lose NVM, STYLE MUZ HAVE!)"
As a co-founder of KFC, and beginning our 3rd year this January, I feel we are ready and primed to establish ourselves as a social but more competitive outfit. We had played two more friendly matches to get some cramps into those legs and to gain some momentum to ensure we would not be brushed aside easily when the league eventually starts. Always bearing in mind that I still want us to enjoy our football no matter what, I do feel we need to make some impression against whichever teams we play. So a friendly match, taking place this Sunday, was planned before the league began. Conveniently, it comes straight after this league defeat against Sarcofago.
Sarcofago, a team that took a year's break from D2D league, is a physically larger and taller opponents. KFC has seen it before from last season against such similar teams like Ultras and La Calle DF. Given that we struggled against such teams last season, Sarcofago was a good test for us.
With former La Calle DF central defender Amin (not Amin the Speedy Gonzalez who started as holding midfielder) on board, Calvin hopefully making a permanent return and Rashid starting his first full league season and even Firul returning from a bad injury, I would like to think we can make up for the loss of NS-bound Imran to work on the one aspect of our team which has always been weak; central defence.
In a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation, Rashid and Amin started in central defence with Fazli and myself taking the full-back slots. Huang, fresh from his 2-header goals exploit last week, was handed the lone striker berth with super wingers Helmi and Farhan flanking him. The central midfield began with Rahman, Amin and Muhammad, the latter being our top league player last season with the most number of assists. We started with 4 substitute players, due to Azhari and Azman pulling out, making it a rare game indeed when we do not have many players on the sidelines.
KFC started very brightly, having the lions' share of possession in Sarcofago's half. The opponents gradually began imposing their superior physical strength and aggression, one high tackle on me left ugly studs mark on my leg after the game. Wilson also suffered an early injury when an opponent injured him on his ankle in an aerial challege that the opponent would never have won. Wilson would later be replaced by Fazli in the first half but he came on in the closing minutes of the match when Fazli himself suffered a back injury following another challenge by the same opponent.
It was still a fair fight though, that never got out of hand. Rahman, man of the match this past week, typified KFC's own brand of physicality with his hussling and tangling with the blue men on the ball. We had great sights of goal but on-target shots were at a premium. When I got in on the physical act with a tackle of my own, I conceded a free-kick. The aerial cross was one which we failed to deal with convincingly and opponents punished our lacklustre defending when they scored to take the lead with a shot from inside the box.
We lifted ourselves, prepare to overcome the deficit, something which we often struggled to do. We responded brilliantly and mounted a fightback. Yet, we were not clinical in front of goal.
The odds became tougher for us to overcome when our opponents extended their lead. A long ball from the right flank sailed crossfield out to the left flank and again we failed to clear convincingly at the first instance. The cross that came in into the penalty box had caught out our defence but there was little danger when the ball seems to creep away from our upright. I rushed back to remove any potential danger and although an opponent rushed back with me, I was favourite to win the ball. Unfortunately, I believed my clearance came off my opponent and it took a freak deflection high and right on the goal-line into goal. That goal stunned KFC into silence as we went into the half-time break 2-0 down.
We started the 2nd half in typical fashion, giving ourselves a good account, and keeping some good possession. Helmi's miss, after being put through on goal from Muhammad's pass, highlighted our profligacy in front of goal. Sarcofago unsurprisingly struck us on the counter-attack, protecting their lead very well with good defending that left Kelvin visibly frustrated before his withdrawal from the game, and his replacement Huang earning a surprise yellow card after back-to-back challenges which had made the referee unhappy. The 2nd half ended goalless despite immense KFC pressure towards the end.
KFC may have ended the game defeated but it was a good test in which we played well. Hopefully, that sets the tone for the remainder of the season. We are here to play as well as we can irregardless the results. We may want to have fun and enjoy the game but we will strive to hold our own in what is already looking to be a competitive Division 3 for KFC.
Rest of results
Akim