Scorers (assists)
-
Man Of The Match
Firul (6) - Mr Consistency
Wilson (3) - returned to action with a marvellous display to keep the score down
Akim (2) - good command of the defense line
Yellow card:
-
Wilson (GK)
Mubarak - Akim - Firul - Helmi
Ken - Huang - Muhammad - Desmond (debut)
Yongsheng - Farhan
Subs:
Kevin
Kambing FC were brushed aside in a lopsided match as we confirmed our relegation / promotion match with a Div 4 team at most. Despite that, we again gave a very good account of ourselves to restrict the league leaders to a single goal for a long period in the match with Wilson in particularly inspiring form on his return in goal. Farhan and myself spurned great chances to equalize but TF pulled away to score the crucial 2nd goal late in the second half and added gloss to make it 0-3 in the closing minutes.
A starting line-up with ten men including debutant Desmond and a half-fit Helmi endured a dominant TF performance that was as composed in possession as they had been in our previous narrow 0-1 defeat. Endurance was the word too as the match was played under extremely humid conditions. KFC defended admirably well however and Farhan soon arrived to complete the line-up. TF had been restricted to sky-high range shots and were looking to switch play constantly with Mubarak and Helmi often being forced to pin down their man on the touchline. Crosses into the penalty box were intercepted but our midfield often failed to track the run of a surging midfield opponent. Wilson had to parry an inswinging opponent corner over the bar on one occasion and that became a TF tactic later in the first half. Helmi soon swapped roles with Desmond but then TF took the lead on the left side of our defence. The goal had not looked like coming when TF again played a crossfield pass from deep. Their right winger broke into the box with Desmond checking him. Somehow, the player unleashed a shot when the angle seems to be narrowing and the powerful shot caught Wilson at his near post even though Wilson had his hand to it.
TF could have doubled their lead minutes later but Wilson made an incredible save from the opponent who had shot outside our box after a neat interchange of passes. More inswinging corners kept Wilson busy that saw a burst of 4 corners in succession at one time. We were failing to string two passes together and Firul's goalkicks were not being kept down in the midfield area that will have allowed us a little relief in terms of possession, but we lost out on virtually every aerial challenge. Midway through the first half, Helmi finally made way out to take the rest which had us a little worried for his health. Kevin, slotting in at left back, almost called it quits too. Having been away from the team for awhile, he did his best nevertheless as the referee finally called time on the first half.
The second half started in much better weather and while TF made it seem a training match, we finally managed to break out of a defensive shell to conjure up some moves of our own. Wilson was still more than a spectator in the game but when he was beaten, the crossbar saved us at one time. We also finally string some passes of our own. Huang even managed a slalom dribble past three defenders to set up Farhan with a fantastic pass. Farhan could not keep his shot on target however. Muhammad and Ken also had set pieces chances but I had the best chance to equalize for the team. I reacted awkwardly at our freekick which ricocheted between and through Desmond's legs to me. Being totally unmarked, I half-expected an offside call and half-surprised when the ball came to me. With all the time in the world, I inexplicably struck my shot wide when a goal had looked so easy.
That cost us dear as TF finally doubled their lead. A similar break on our left side of defence had the right winger breaking past Desmond. Not sure if it was the same player, but he shot again at Wilson's near post and again Wilson had his hands to the shot. The stinging drive was too hot to handle however and it landed in the back of the net. Having kept TF at bay for a long period, that goal did deflate us to an extent. Eventually TF scored their 3rd goal to complete the rout. Wilson had saved the initial opponent shot from close range but the ball fell kindly to a TF player who could not miss on the goalline.
While the scoreline is deserving for TF, we did well to contain a team who did not seem to be going for the kill. I was disappointed with the gaps we left in midfield at times, especially in the first half, that allowed TF to run at us deep into our half but given the circumstances, weather, manpower etc, we still gave a spirited performance. In the second half, we showed enough bite to finally threaten TF and with a luck or two, we could have even steal a point. Huang's inspired dribble in that half was also perhaps the moment of the match. Wilson too put in a creditable display with saves that kept the scoreline down. His punts were useful too but we just lacked the players or fitness to press TF that deep in their own half.
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Akim
A starting line-up with ten men including debutant Desmond and a half-fit Helmi endured a dominant TF performance that was as composed in possession as they had been in our previous narrow 0-1 defeat. Endurance was the word too as the match was played under extremely humid conditions. KFC defended admirably well however and Farhan soon arrived to complete the line-up. TF had been restricted to sky-high range shots and were looking to switch play constantly with Mubarak and Helmi often being forced to pin down their man on the touchline. Crosses into the penalty box were intercepted but our midfield often failed to track the run of a surging midfield opponent. Wilson had to parry an inswinging opponent corner over the bar on one occasion and that became a TF tactic later in the first half. Helmi soon swapped roles with Desmond but then TF took the lead on the left side of our defence. The goal had not looked like coming when TF again played a crossfield pass from deep. Their right winger broke into the box with Desmond checking him. Somehow, the player unleashed a shot when the angle seems to be narrowing and the powerful shot caught Wilson at his near post even though Wilson had his hand to it.
TF could have doubled their lead minutes later but Wilson made an incredible save from the opponent who had shot outside our box after a neat interchange of passes. More inswinging corners kept Wilson busy that saw a burst of 4 corners in succession at one time. We were failing to string two passes together and Firul's goalkicks were not being kept down in the midfield area that will have allowed us a little relief in terms of possession, but we lost out on virtually every aerial challenge. Midway through the first half, Helmi finally made way out to take the rest which had us a little worried for his health. Kevin, slotting in at left back, almost called it quits too. Having been away from the team for awhile, he did his best nevertheless as the referee finally called time on the first half.
The second half started in much better weather and while TF made it seem a training match, we finally managed to break out of a defensive shell to conjure up some moves of our own. Wilson was still more than a spectator in the game but when he was beaten, the crossbar saved us at one time. We also finally string some passes of our own. Huang even managed a slalom dribble past three defenders to set up Farhan with a fantastic pass. Farhan could not keep his shot on target however. Muhammad and Ken also had set pieces chances but I had the best chance to equalize for the team. I reacted awkwardly at our freekick which ricocheted between and through Desmond's legs to me. Being totally unmarked, I half-expected an offside call and half-surprised when the ball came to me. With all the time in the world, I inexplicably struck my shot wide when a goal had looked so easy.
That cost us dear as TF finally doubled their lead. A similar break on our left side of defence had the right winger breaking past Desmond. Not sure if it was the same player, but he shot again at Wilson's near post and again Wilson had his hands to the shot. The stinging drive was too hot to handle however and it landed in the back of the net. Having kept TF at bay for a long period, that goal did deflate us to an extent. Eventually TF scored their 3rd goal to complete the rout. Wilson had saved the initial opponent shot from close range but the ball fell kindly to a TF player who could not miss on the goalline.
While the scoreline is deserving for TF, we did well to contain a team who did not seem to be going for the kill. I was disappointed with the gaps we left in midfield at times, especially in the first half, that allowed TF to run at us deep into our half but given the circumstances, weather, manpower etc, we still gave a spirited performance. In the second half, we showed enough bite to finally threaten TF and with a luck or two, we could have even steal a point. Huang's inspired dribble in that half was also perhaps the moment of the match. Wilson too put in a creditable display with saves that kept the scoreline down. His punts were useful too but we just lacked the players or fitness to press TF that deep in their own half.
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Akim