Scorers (assists)
Syafiq (-)
Man Of The Match
Shahril (6) - made his return a much welcome experience against strong opponents
Helmi (3) - creative force of the team
Rahman (1) - tireless
Syafiq (1)
Shiva (1)
Yellow card:
Shahril 1st half
Danial (GK)
Mubarak - Shahril - Fazli - Shafi
Karim - Helmi - Amin (d) - Rahman - Omar
Syafiq
Subs:
Farid
Shiva
Akim
Kambing FC was counting down the matches against teams from the top 6 of the table who are all presently engaged in one of the tightest title races. In the past three league games, we lost to Macheda, Samalongkok and now 1980s United FC. In the next few weeks, we will play FZE, Industmarine Football and Total Football.
Even as we struggle to haul ourselves out of the bottom three after this defeat, which now leaves us without a win in 4 matches, I am sure the team enjoyed a fun Sunday out on the pitch, which was the main aim when we joined the league in the first place.
1980s won the match 6-2 when we faced them earlier this season. As in our previous encounter, they brought their A game again and controlled proceedings almost throughout the match. Yet it was pleasing that we gave them some anxious moments, even if at sporadic intervals. Helmi and Syafiq were at the heart of those moments. It was fair to say that if we had converted our chances, we might have been talking about a different result.
Fazli, not the one who is currently injured indefinitely, made his debut alongside the returning Shahril in central defence. That allowed Amin (d) to slot in central midfield as the crucial anchor. Fazli was understandably match-rusty after a long time out of the game but did enough to show that he can be a vital part of the team given more playing time. Shahril won the plaudits after an outstanding performance.
The new defence was just settling in when our opponents took an early lead. A diagonal ball, a tactic deployed throughout by 1980s, towards our right flank led to a breakaway from their left winger. His cross into the box did not meet its target but an unmarked opponent was on hand to shoot home the loose ball from close range. Previously, I am sure it would have deflated us, however we have been able to respond positively in previous weeks against the likes of those teams I mentioned earlier.
In fact, we could have equalized minutes later. Helmi, who almost could not make it for this match, was at his toe-twinkling best. Teasing his immediate opponent on the right flank, he set up Syafiq with an exquisite lobbed pass in the penalty box. Syafiq cleverly eluded his marker and had a clear shot at goal but inexplicably shot way over the bar.
1980s punished us for that miss when they doubled their lead through a header from a corner that was taken out of the textbook. In hindsight, it was another silly goal to give away but it was also fair to say that with a tall player in our opponents' ranks, who just edged out our very own tallest player, we would have been unmatched in the majority of those aerial duels. Crucially, we did not suffer from those set-pieces as much throughout the remainder of the match.
Shahril was the only player to earn a caution for the team, a late tackle that looked nasty. However, it was the opponent's brilliant turn of pace that caught Shahril out and Shahril had naturally reacted to it. Minutes after my introduction in the first half, just before the break, I managed to set up Syafiq following a dummy from Helmi just outside the penalty box. Syafiq could have found himself through on goal but the referee blew him for offside which looked harsh.
There was some discussion during the half-time break but spirits were still high. For some reason, there was a new sense of spirit and I felt that it was partly due to the fresh faces in the team. Granted, Shahril had played for us before but it has been a long time since he did. It helped also that we were not playing that bad as well.
It was one thing to press the opponents, it was another to match the fitness of our opponents. 1980s had it in abundance. When we pressed them, we left gaps in midfield where the increasingly tiring Amin was manfully trying to plug in. Those who pressed, myself included, did not manage to track back fast enough. 1980s exploited this very well. We could have played very deep ourselves had we chose not to press and let them come at us. Typical KFC, we were just eager to get the ball back to claw our way back into the game instead.
When 1980s did managed to pass their way towards our goal, our defence managed to hold itself led by the impressive new partnership of Shahril and Fazli. Our full-backs, Mubarak first and Shafi, followed by Farid, did their part to intercept and cut out those marauding runs down our flanks which was mainly on our right side. But the defence finally broke down when 1980s extended their lead. A lobbed ball on the halfway line went over our defence on the left side. The left winger calmly dispatched it into goal to make it 3-0 for 1980s.
In the second half, we attempted to press the 1980s in their half where they usually initiate their attacks from outside their penalty box, passing the ball upfield gradually towards us. I managed to intercept one of those passes, which was a complacent one. My left-footed shot was on target yet weak, but 1980s had been given a timely reminder that their passing can only be spot on if they did not let complacency set in.
I had a fantastic chance again to pull a goal back when Syafiq's cross came in from the left flank which was preceded by a clever reverse pass from Shiva on the left flank that was matched by Syafiq's own clever run. But my header was disappointingly way off target. But Syafiq finally managed to bring some cheer to the team when he scored. Shiva's dribble on the left flank saw him cutting infield towards the penalty box and took a shot. The GK could only parry it to a grateful Syafiq who tapped in. Rahman's introduction in the second half meant we tried to press even more but eventually tired legs ran out and we could not conjure any more goals as the match finally ended in a 1-3 defeat.
Kambing FC did itself proud with another spirited performance that brought smiles and positivity throughout the team despite another defeat. It is always going to be an uphill task when we realized we will be facing the 6 top teams for the remainder of the league. Yet, we gave ourselves another good account which has not always translate to the result we wanted but as long as we played well, we can all go home feeling happy from playing in a good match.
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
D2D review on footballopod
Akim
Even as we struggle to haul ourselves out of the bottom three after this defeat, which now leaves us without a win in 4 matches, I am sure the team enjoyed a fun Sunday out on the pitch, which was the main aim when we joined the league in the first place.
1980s won the match 6-2 when we faced them earlier this season. As in our previous encounter, they brought their A game again and controlled proceedings almost throughout the match. Yet it was pleasing that we gave them some anxious moments, even if at sporadic intervals. Helmi and Syafiq were at the heart of those moments. It was fair to say that if we had converted our chances, we might have been talking about a different result.
Fazli, not the one who is currently injured indefinitely, made his debut alongside the returning Shahril in central defence. That allowed Amin (d) to slot in central midfield as the crucial anchor. Fazli was understandably match-rusty after a long time out of the game but did enough to show that he can be a vital part of the team given more playing time. Shahril won the plaudits after an outstanding performance.
The new defence was just settling in when our opponents took an early lead. A diagonal ball, a tactic deployed throughout by 1980s, towards our right flank led to a breakaway from their left winger. His cross into the box did not meet its target but an unmarked opponent was on hand to shoot home the loose ball from close range. Previously, I am sure it would have deflated us, however we have been able to respond positively in previous weeks against the likes of those teams I mentioned earlier.
In fact, we could have equalized minutes later. Helmi, who almost could not make it for this match, was at his toe-twinkling best. Teasing his immediate opponent on the right flank, he set up Syafiq with an exquisite lobbed pass in the penalty box. Syafiq cleverly eluded his marker and had a clear shot at goal but inexplicably shot way over the bar.
1980s punished us for that miss when they doubled their lead through a header from a corner that was taken out of the textbook. In hindsight, it was another silly goal to give away but it was also fair to say that with a tall player in our opponents' ranks, who just edged out our very own tallest player, we would have been unmatched in the majority of those aerial duels. Crucially, we did not suffer from those set-pieces as much throughout the remainder of the match.
Shahril was the only player to earn a caution for the team, a late tackle that looked nasty. However, it was the opponent's brilliant turn of pace that caught Shahril out and Shahril had naturally reacted to it. Minutes after my introduction in the first half, just before the break, I managed to set up Syafiq following a dummy from Helmi just outside the penalty box. Syafiq could have found himself through on goal but the referee blew him for offside which looked harsh.
There was some discussion during the half-time break but spirits were still high. For some reason, there was a new sense of spirit and I felt that it was partly due to the fresh faces in the team. Granted, Shahril had played for us before but it has been a long time since he did. It helped also that we were not playing that bad as well.
It was one thing to press the opponents, it was another to match the fitness of our opponents. 1980s had it in abundance. When we pressed them, we left gaps in midfield where the increasingly tiring Amin was manfully trying to plug in. Those who pressed, myself included, did not manage to track back fast enough. 1980s exploited this very well. We could have played very deep ourselves had we chose not to press and let them come at us. Typical KFC, we were just eager to get the ball back to claw our way back into the game instead.
When 1980s did managed to pass their way towards our goal, our defence managed to hold itself led by the impressive new partnership of Shahril and Fazli. Our full-backs, Mubarak first and Shafi, followed by Farid, did their part to intercept and cut out those marauding runs down our flanks which was mainly on our right side. But the defence finally broke down when 1980s extended their lead. A lobbed ball on the halfway line went over our defence on the left side. The left winger calmly dispatched it into goal to make it 3-0 for 1980s.
In the second half, we attempted to press the 1980s in their half where they usually initiate their attacks from outside their penalty box, passing the ball upfield gradually towards us. I managed to intercept one of those passes, which was a complacent one. My left-footed shot was on target yet weak, but 1980s had been given a timely reminder that their passing can only be spot on if they did not let complacency set in.
I had a fantastic chance again to pull a goal back when Syafiq's cross came in from the left flank which was preceded by a clever reverse pass from Shiva on the left flank that was matched by Syafiq's own clever run. But my header was disappointingly way off target. But Syafiq finally managed to bring some cheer to the team when he scored. Shiva's dribble on the left flank saw him cutting infield towards the penalty box and took a shot. The GK could only parry it to a grateful Syafiq who tapped in. Rahman's introduction in the second half meant we tried to press even more but eventually tired legs ran out and we could not conjure any more goals as the match finally ended in a 1-3 defeat.
Kambing FC did itself proud with another spirited performance that brought smiles and positivity throughout the team despite another defeat. It is always going to be an uphill task when we realized we will be facing the 6 top teams for the remainder of the league. Yet, we gave ourselves another good account which has not always translate to the result we wanted but as long as we played well, we can all go home feeling happy from playing in a good match.
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
D2D review on footballopod
Akim