Scorers (assists)
-
Man Of The Match
Danial (12) - kept us in the game with crucial and (a couple of fabulous) saves
Rashid (2) - an awesome game yet again
Omar (1) - made a difference when substituted in
Mubarak (1)
Yellow card:
Rahman 2nd half
Danial (GK)
Fazli - Calvin - Rashid - Mubarak
Farhan - Akim - Rahman - Amin
Imran - Rafeeq
Subs:
Shafi
Kelvin
Omar
Azhari
Azman
Huang
An undefeated run of 5 games, including 4 draws, meant KFC came into this game with decent form and with a strong squad at its disposal featuring the comeback of one Imran, we certainly looked capable of holding our own on paper. In the end, KFC may have suffered its 1st loss of this year in a narrow defeat but we certainly put up a commendable performance. Title contenders Total Football are hot favourites to win Division 3 this season but KFC did not lie down. If only Omar and Kelvin had taken their chances in the second half, I may have been writing a completely different match review narrating, instead, the biggest win in KFC's history.
TF dominated proceedings from the kick-off and an early opponent shot rang warning bells. Instructions from the start was to make sure Danial punted the ball up towards Imran, who started in a rare game as striker, and making his 1st league appearance this season. Imran, I felt, would have a fair chance at winning those aerial balls and add the attacking dimension I spoke about last week. Unfortunately, the TF backline was marshalled superbly by a defender in the form of a foreign import. He certainly proved the difference in the heart of their defence in that first half.
Rahman and myself gallantly held out in the centre of midfield but we could not add the flair and creativity that the injured Muhammad would have brought to the team. As a result, Farhan and Amin were having a forlorn game down the flanks, having to resort deep and forage for possession of the ball. Fazli's early injury also deprived us of that long throw-ins from the byline. The introduction of Azman, Azhari, Omar and Shafi in our places, as Amin stayed on, did their bit to ensure KFC held on for a goalless first half.
The scoreline was certainly what we deserved despite TF's domination as KFC played arguably our best defensive performance ever. It could have been a different story if Danial had not saved superbly from a shot inside the six yard area. Credit to our defence yet again as Rashid and Calvin again commanded our backline impressively while Mubarak and Shafi chipped in to assist to shut down the flanks as manfully as they could.
The second half saw three main changes. Kelvin came on at right midfield, Huang, who has exhibited Gattuso-like menace in midfield in the match against Ultras before the new year, took on the role yet again, as we reverted to a 4-5-1, and Imran replaced Calvin to slot in alongside Rashid in central defence. Calvin had suffered a slight knock late in the first half but he returned to action late in the second half.
Despite the changes, the second half was all about Danial. His reflex save from a point-blank header was the best save of the match and he was called upon a few more times before and after, including another tip-over the bar. When our defence was beaten, Danial proved to be the decisive last line of defence.
With Danial and the rest of our defence doing their share at one end, we stumbled onto our best period of the match at the other end. Omar, replacing Kelvin at right midfield, who in turn took the striker role in place of the tiring Rafeeq, was the person who certainly made the difference in KFC's attack.
His trickery down the right flank saw him surged through into the penalty box but with the goalkeeper to beat, Omar could not get the decisive touch to score a certain goal. He was up to his best yet again just minutes later when he supplied a super cross for Kelvin. Kelvin failed to connect properly, his shot sailing over the bar, but both awesome chances certainly raised high hopes for a KFC upset.
However, an upset, and even the draw we came oh-so-close to attain, evaporated as TF ultimately scored the winning goal late in the second half. An unmarked man on the left side of our defence, received a crossfield pass from his team-mate, and with only Danial to beat, he did not disappoint to finally beat our MOM this week and scored the winning goal. We tried to rally back to cancel out the deficit but in defeat, our performance glossed over the result. I was definitely encouraged and immense pride swelled at the manner my team-mates worked hard for one another. I can tell you that I felt I raised my own game too and it is not wrong to say that this is one of my most favourite games ever.
Our team in D2D league
Rest of results
Akim
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the opening matches of the season Kambing Fc had drawn less than satisfactory results from its encounters, being newly promoted from division 4 to 3. Perhaps we were being overwhelmed by the competition we face, and the fact that Hari Raya was just a few weekends ago do not make it the circumstances where we were all to be at our best physique. We were lacking in match fitness, and our results and performance definitely showed. The first symbolic point in the Division proved elusive for us to attain, but on my part i was in the belief that one day it would come, one way or another. Though a social team, we have proven ourselves resilient, and it looks as though we were getting ourselves on the right track.
Total Football Fc were sitting second at the table that time, and we started as underdogs. They have the reputation of being Tohari Paijan's team, and i felt that on that day they carried themselves well. Total Football was fast, skilful and quick. Do not let their youth be a deception, for they proved that they could combine their agility and skill to being as physically strong as well.
We on the other hand were missing a few players. Amin the defender couldnt make it, and Muhd was out for the weekend being injured playing for his company's team. Omar, Helmi and a few others werent present too. However, we did cope, well enough to earn a clean sheet at half time amidst frantic and desperate defending. Rashid was having a stellar performance in defence, many times scrambling the ball away and at one time from rolling into the net.
TFFC were almost edgin us in every respect, but the physical nature of the pitch being small enough, worked in favour for us, helping us push them quickly out of space and cornering them. Everyone in the pitch, on both sides, were up for a physical game, but at most times in the exchange Total Football impressed us with their swift passing game and fluidity. Our midfield were in danger of being ran over, but help from Huang to cover that thin department got us coping, and Huang showed his utility to the team as an adptable, consistent performer.
We got our chances, Kelvin proved to have the best, but the quick lay off to him that was only a half chance he did not convert, but his ability to summon up an attack on goal proved to show that we could do it. THe lions share of the game fell on to TTFC who showed how good they are at hitting at any chance, though for some reason Danial, our custodian for the day was well positioned enough to deflect the danger away.
However, their youth and fitness began to take a toll on us,, and even with desperate substitutions we couldnt manage them well enough. A good cross diagonal ball found their right winger, who gleefully managed to guide the ball on the far post past the on rushing.
Though we came up short on the other end of the 1-0 encounter, i think we did well enough, for if we look back our past reports, this would be one game that we can still hold our head up high despite coming back short. Losing doesnt mean we come back with nothing.
Rahman
TF dominated proceedings from the kick-off and an early opponent shot rang warning bells. Instructions from the start was to make sure Danial punted the ball up towards Imran, who started in a rare game as striker, and making his 1st league appearance this season. Imran, I felt, would have a fair chance at winning those aerial balls and add the attacking dimension I spoke about last week. Unfortunately, the TF backline was marshalled superbly by a defender in the form of a foreign import. He certainly proved the difference in the heart of their defence in that first half.
Rahman and myself gallantly held out in the centre of midfield but we could not add the flair and creativity that the injured Muhammad would have brought to the team. As a result, Farhan and Amin were having a forlorn game down the flanks, having to resort deep and forage for possession of the ball. Fazli's early injury also deprived us of that long throw-ins from the byline. The introduction of Azman, Azhari, Omar and Shafi in our places, as Amin stayed on, did their bit to ensure KFC held on for a goalless first half.
The scoreline was certainly what we deserved despite TF's domination as KFC played arguably our best defensive performance ever. It could have been a different story if Danial had not saved superbly from a shot inside the six yard area. Credit to our defence yet again as Rashid and Calvin again commanded our backline impressively while Mubarak and Shafi chipped in to assist to shut down the flanks as manfully as they could.
The second half saw three main changes. Kelvin came on at right midfield, Huang, who has exhibited Gattuso-like menace in midfield in the match against Ultras before the new year, took on the role yet again, as we reverted to a 4-5-1, and Imran replaced Calvin to slot in alongside Rashid in central defence. Calvin had suffered a slight knock late in the first half but he returned to action late in the second half.
Despite the changes, the second half was all about Danial. His reflex save from a point-blank header was the best save of the match and he was called upon a few more times before and after, including another tip-over the bar. When our defence was beaten, Danial proved to be the decisive last line of defence.
With Danial and the rest of our defence doing their share at one end, we stumbled onto our best period of the match at the other end. Omar, replacing Kelvin at right midfield, who in turn took the striker role in place of the tiring Rafeeq, was the person who certainly made the difference in KFC's attack.
His trickery down the right flank saw him surged through into the penalty box but with the goalkeeper to beat, Omar could not get the decisive touch to score a certain goal. He was up to his best yet again just minutes later when he supplied a super cross for Kelvin. Kelvin failed to connect properly, his shot sailing over the bar, but both awesome chances certainly raised high hopes for a KFC upset.
However, an upset, and even the draw we came oh-so-close to attain, evaporated as TF ultimately scored the winning goal late in the second half. An unmarked man on the left side of our defence, received a crossfield pass from his team-mate, and with only Danial to beat, he did not disappoint to finally beat our MOM this week and scored the winning goal. We tried to rally back to cancel out the deficit but in defeat, our performance glossed over the result. I was definitely encouraged and immense pride swelled at the manner my team-mates worked hard for one another. I can tell you that I felt I raised my own game too and it is not wrong to say that this is one of my most favourite games ever.
Our team in D2D league
Rest of results
Akim
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the opening matches of the season Kambing Fc had drawn less than satisfactory results from its encounters, being newly promoted from division 4 to 3. Perhaps we were being overwhelmed by the competition we face, and the fact that Hari Raya was just a few weekends ago do not make it the circumstances where we were all to be at our best physique. We were lacking in match fitness, and our results and performance definitely showed. The first symbolic point in the Division proved elusive for us to attain, but on my part i was in the belief that one day it would come, one way or another. Though a social team, we have proven ourselves resilient, and it looks as though we were getting ourselves on the right track.
Total Football Fc were sitting second at the table that time, and we started as underdogs. They have the reputation of being Tohari Paijan's team, and i felt that on that day they carried themselves well. Total Football was fast, skilful and quick. Do not let their youth be a deception, for they proved that they could combine their agility and skill to being as physically strong as well.
We on the other hand were missing a few players. Amin the defender couldnt make it, and Muhd was out for the weekend being injured playing for his company's team. Omar, Helmi and a few others werent present too. However, we did cope, well enough to earn a clean sheet at half time amidst frantic and desperate defending. Rashid was having a stellar performance in defence, many times scrambling the ball away and at one time from rolling into the net.
TFFC were almost edgin us in every respect, but the physical nature of the pitch being small enough, worked in favour for us, helping us push them quickly out of space and cornering them. Everyone in the pitch, on both sides, were up for a physical game, but at most times in the exchange Total Football impressed us with their swift passing game and fluidity. Our midfield were in danger of being ran over, but help from Huang to cover that thin department got us coping, and Huang showed his utility to the team as an adptable, consistent performer.
We got our chances, Kelvin proved to have the best, but the quick lay off to him that was only a half chance he did not convert, but his ability to summon up an attack on goal proved to show that we could do it. THe lions share of the game fell on to TTFC who showed how good they are at hitting at any chance, though for some reason Danial, our custodian for the day was well positioned enough to deflect the danger away.
However, their youth and fitness began to take a toll on us,, and even with desperate substitutions we couldnt manage them well enough. A good cross diagonal ball found their right winger, who gleefully managed to guide the ball on the far post past the on rushing.
Though we came up short on the other end of the 1-0 encounter, i think we did well enough, for if we look back our past reports, this would be one game that we can still hold our head up high despite coming back short. Losing doesnt mean we come back with nothing.
Rahman