Akim (GK)
Shahid - Amin (d) - Firul - Helmi
Azhari - Rahman - Azman
Farhan - Huang - Omar
Subs:
Firdaus Masdar
Amin
Kelvin
Rafeeq
Shahid - Amin (d) - Firul - Helmi
Azhari - Rahman - Azman
Farhan - Huang - Omar
Subs:
Firdaus Masdar
Amin
Kelvin
Rafeeq
I have to check my little excel template to find out when is the last time we failed to score 2 games in a row. It was in April in fact when we drew a rare goalless (only our 2nd such result, in what was a entertaining match, if some of you might recall) and then lost heavily (0-4 and not so memorable if any of you might recall) and then we embarked on a brand new journey in a (social) competitive league. If the stars are read correctly, we are now resuming that journey and signs are not good because even though we won the first league match (against FC Corpus Christi), we proceeded to lose the next 5 games(!) including 3 league matches. Of course, we still ended up mid-table...
The artificial pitch at New Town Sec had many eyes bulging and lips drooling with excitement. Personally, I would have preferred a run-out in outfield but a late illness to Yazier, coupled with the absence of our two regular custodians (Bay's morning date with his gf and Wilson went to see his wife in Bangkok) meant that I volunteered to stand in as GK. It was also the 2nd game running that we had only 4 players on the bench, Calvin bubbling again without contact and Shafi withdrawing early this morning when he too felt feverish.
Rashid came much too late, when the game was already called off due to heavy downpour with lightning, meaning there was a reshuffle in defence. Firul (27 appearances today out of 71) partnered Amin in central defence while the returning and popular Shahid (37) started at right-back and the versatile Helmi (34) forced again to play at left-back. Senior stalwarts of the team, Rahman (67), Azman (48) and Azhari (35) took the 3 central midfield slots while Farhan (54) and Omar (36) flanked Huang (46). Substitutes Kelvin (50) and Rafeeq (32) had a part in the 1st first but were unfortunate to miss the 2nd while Amin (25) and Firdaus (17) put in solid performances when they were called upon.
What is with statistics today? First, the 2 games in a row without a KFC goal, then the history with the sequence of results, and now with all these players' apperances? Because I do not state this often and also we started our 71st game today (although our win percentage (33%) is not exactly awesome).
Ok, onto proper match review then.
KFC were active in the opening half as we tried to get into our own stride. We were eventually undone by a typical goal which has been more or less the favourite goal against us. An opponent long punt cut through our central defence and the striker found himself in a one-on-one situation with me. I felt his shot was soft but his placing was immaculate and just beyond my reach as Asmara FC took an early lead. For the 2nd week running, we find ourselves having to come from behind. As ever, we did not back down. Farhan had a shot which sailed over the bar and Helmi's free-kick found Farhan whose header was just over as it deflected off the crossbar. Rafeeq had a shot on target but the GK was able to parry it away brilliantly although his recovery was surprisingly slow. Azhari also found himself on course to glory when a lost ball was found deep in opponent's territory. With the GK caught out and only Rafeeq and a defender in the way, Azhari's low cross towards the unmarked Rafeeq was hacked away. On hindsight, Azhari should probably have gone for goal instead.
In the midst of our 4 clear chances (from my point of view), our opponents had a chance to extend the lead in an almost one-on-one situation but I was able to save it almost in slow-motion. A breakaway on the left flank had the hallmark of a left-footed goal but the winger's soft was soft meaning our opponents had only 3 shots on goal compared to our 4.
The only difference was that our opponents did not need to pour men forward to score more goals. Where we struggled for fluency throughout the pitch and our possession with the ball atrocious at times, Asmara FC were brilliantly dictating the tempo of the game with precision pin-point passing as we find ourselves doing a lot of running and pressuring them to decidedly minimal effect.
As the 2nd half began, I was quietly confident that we could still claw ourselves back into the game and try to break that mental barrier of overcoming a deficit. Instead, I warranted unnecessary action to put pressure on our chances of doing exactly just that. In the tagboard, I know that Amin "Speedy Gonzalez" tried to comfort me when he read what he perceived to be a self-critic review last week, which I hoped I have since clarified.
But I have to be definitely self-critical now. Minutes after the restart, my underhit pass to Azhari was easily cut out by an opponent. He passed it back to his team-mate just after the halfway line and I could already tell he wanted to take a David Beckham-esque lob. For some reason, I could only punch his shot into the net instead of over the bar. We found ourselves 2-0 down unnecessarily. It goes without saying I felt disappointed with myself.
We were never truly in the game after that but we did keep our heads up and continued to play football. But we were to find ourselves 3-0 down. I have never been one to take long goal-kicks, much less long punts. And our short goal-kicks options were not open to me most of the times. One such long goal-kick was only parked in the middle of the park for an opponent to intercept it. After they had a runabout with possession, an opponent was able to latch onto a through ball played through our defence, and despite our offside appeals, he rounded me to tap it into an empty net.
The last meaningful action of the match, if it is any consolation to myself, was when I was able to draw a world-class save after an opponent shot from outside the box took a nasty deflection off Firdaus. I was already going one way but I recovered well to turn it away from goal. Shortly after that, rain poured and the referee called off the match as safety measure. I believe this was a game where we should have taken as a precursor to next week's expected league match. Unfortunately, it did not happen that way. We still probably lack that cutting edge up front even though we created some chances. There was also a moment in the match, which I felt we have always been capable of but rarely replicate consistently, from a brilliant set of passing exchanges that involved Rahman, Azhari(?) and Omar. Omar's pass for Huang, who had made a good run behind the defence, was delightful but Huang's cross was sadly wasted as we had no men storming forward to challenge it.
Nevertheless, we will strive to continue to improve ourselves. I am personally hoping that our regular GKs can also make it for next week's game. Nothing short of a good team performance will satisfy me more. Anything other than a wretched run of results, see para 1, will be a bonus.
Akim
The artificial pitch at New Town Sec had many eyes bulging and lips drooling with excitement. Personally, I would have preferred a run-out in outfield but a late illness to Yazier, coupled with the absence of our two regular custodians (Bay's morning date with his gf and Wilson went to see his wife in Bangkok) meant that I volunteered to stand in as GK. It was also the 2nd game running that we had only 4 players on the bench, Calvin bubbling again without contact and Shafi withdrawing early this morning when he too felt feverish.
Rashid came much too late, when the game was already called off due to heavy downpour with lightning, meaning there was a reshuffle in defence. Firul (27 appearances today out of 71) partnered Amin in central defence while the returning and popular Shahid (37) started at right-back and the versatile Helmi (34) forced again to play at left-back. Senior stalwarts of the team, Rahman (67), Azman (48) and Azhari (35) took the 3 central midfield slots while Farhan (54) and Omar (36) flanked Huang (46). Substitutes Kelvin (50) and Rafeeq (32) had a part in the 1st first but were unfortunate to miss the 2nd while Amin (25) and Firdaus (17) put in solid performances when they were called upon.
What is with statistics today? First, the 2 games in a row without a KFC goal, then the history with the sequence of results, and now with all these players' apperances? Because I do not state this often and also we started our 71st game today (although our win percentage (33%) is not exactly awesome).
Ok, onto proper match review then.
KFC were active in the opening half as we tried to get into our own stride. We were eventually undone by a typical goal which has been more or less the favourite goal against us. An opponent long punt cut through our central defence and the striker found himself in a one-on-one situation with me. I felt his shot was soft but his placing was immaculate and just beyond my reach as Asmara FC took an early lead. For the 2nd week running, we find ourselves having to come from behind. As ever, we did not back down. Farhan had a shot which sailed over the bar and Helmi's free-kick found Farhan whose header was just over as it deflected off the crossbar. Rafeeq had a shot on target but the GK was able to parry it away brilliantly although his recovery was surprisingly slow. Azhari also found himself on course to glory when a lost ball was found deep in opponent's territory. With the GK caught out and only Rafeeq and a defender in the way, Azhari's low cross towards the unmarked Rafeeq was hacked away. On hindsight, Azhari should probably have gone for goal instead.
In the midst of our 4 clear chances (from my point of view), our opponents had a chance to extend the lead in an almost one-on-one situation but I was able to save it almost in slow-motion. A breakaway on the left flank had the hallmark of a left-footed goal but the winger's soft was soft meaning our opponents had only 3 shots on goal compared to our 4.
The only difference was that our opponents did not need to pour men forward to score more goals. Where we struggled for fluency throughout the pitch and our possession with the ball atrocious at times, Asmara FC were brilliantly dictating the tempo of the game with precision pin-point passing as we find ourselves doing a lot of running and pressuring them to decidedly minimal effect.
As the 2nd half began, I was quietly confident that we could still claw ourselves back into the game and try to break that mental barrier of overcoming a deficit. Instead, I warranted unnecessary action to put pressure on our chances of doing exactly just that. In the tagboard, I know that Amin "Speedy Gonzalez" tried to comfort me when he read what he perceived to be a self-critic review last week, which I hoped I have since clarified.
But I have to be definitely self-critical now. Minutes after the restart, my underhit pass to Azhari was easily cut out by an opponent. He passed it back to his team-mate just after the halfway line and I could already tell he wanted to take a David Beckham-esque lob. For some reason, I could only punch his shot into the net instead of over the bar. We found ourselves 2-0 down unnecessarily. It goes without saying I felt disappointed with myself.
We were never truly in the game after that but we did keep our heads up and continued to play football. But we were to find ourselves 3-0 down. I have never been one to take long goal-kicks, much less long punts. And our short goal-kicks options were not open to me most of the times. One such long goal-kick was only parked in the middle of the park for an opponent to intercept it. After they had a runabout with possession, an opponent was able to latch onto a through ball played through our defence, and despite our offside appeals, he rounded me to tap it into an empty net.
The last meaningful action of the match, if it is any consolation to myself, was when I was able to draw a world-class save after an opponent shot from outside the box took a nasty deflection off Firdaus. I was already going one way but I recovered well to turn it away from goal. Shortly after that, rain poured and the referee called off the match as safety measure. I believe this was a game where we should have taken as a precursor to next week's expected league match. Unfortunately, it did not happen that way. We still probably lack that cutting edge up front even though we created some chances. There was also a moment in the match, which I felt we have always been capable of but rarely replicate consistently, from a brilliant set of passing exchanges that involved Rahman, Azhari(?) and Omar. Omar's pass for Huang, who had made a good run behind the defence, was delightful but Huang's cross was sadly wasted as we had no men storming forward to challenge it.
Nevertheless, we will strive to continue to improve ourselves. I am personally hoping that our regular GKs can also make it for next week's game. Nothing short of a good team performance will satisfy me more. Anything other than a wretched run of results, see para 1, will be a bonus.
Akim