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Scorers (assists)
-
Man Of The Match
Shahril (11) - another superb defensive performance
Syafiq (3) - lively when on the pitch, header struck the crossbar
Akim (1)
Yellow card:
Rashid (1st half)
Andrew (1st half)
Yazier (GK)
Firdaus Masdar - Shahril - Azmi - Rashid
Kelvin - Akim - Amin (d) - Helmi
Azman
Rahman
Subs:
Andrew
Joharie
Syafiq
Farhan
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Kambing FC suffered its first defeat of the season on a pitch that has been our bogey playing ground in our last three matches here at Fuchun Secondary School. Ever the statistician, I compiled the list of fields we have played on so far and our results on each field are as shown in the picture above.
Back to the real story. We started the match with 4 central midfielders as Azman and Rahman took up the forward roles. The opponents' hard running on and off the ball belied their current league position as we got off to a nervous start defensively. Azman did have two early shots on goal to compensate for the pressure.
Yazier, starting in goal, had to keep out an early low shot on as we strived to find our rhythm and control the pace of our game regardless the efforts of our opponents. The resulting corner was dangerous and saw the ball sailed across our goal but no significant contact was made to turn it into the net. The challenges were feisty early on as yellow cards were awarded to players from both teams. Even Andrew, making his league debut, got into the book for the wrong reason when he unwittingly got onto the pitch without the referee's knowledge when he came on for Rashid, our earlier recipient of the card.
I was then bundled over by three defenders and earned a freekick in a promising position. I took the kick but while the ball managed to gain height, it was always curving away from goal. Syafiq, starting his first league game for us this season, came on for Kelvin and immediately made an impact. Up till then, the opponents were having a lion's share of the possession and looked threatening on the attack. Yazier was forced to make another save later on as the chaotic situation, caused by the opponents' blistering start, stabilised into calmness. We soon had our rhythm and initiated dangerous attacks of our own. Amin split their defence with a wonderful pass for Syafiq inside the penalty box. Syafiq's initial shot was blocked but he kept going. However, he was perhaps a little selfish as he hopelessly tried to drill the ball home when Helmi, who was a constant outlet on the left and moved infield later in the half, was left unmarked behind him on the edge of the box and an empty goal ahead beckoned. As Farhan came on for Rahman, a built-up play from the right flank saw me playing the ball first time towards his path on the edge of the box. With a marker tightly onto him, Farhan still managed to shoot and gained a corner. We were looking dangerous and inventive as the pace of the match began to recede comfortably into half-time.
After the break, Rahman and myself took grip of the centre of midfield and we immediately looked a better team. Andrew was a useful addition to the backline and combined well with Kelvin on our right flank after the restart. Kelvin had to defend more today and his attacking instincts were compromised, but his defensive work helped the team a lot. Shahril and Azmi, who were both flustered with our midfield, were a true last line of defence and kept repelling our opponents' advances. Rashid was also doing his part as he combined attacking and defending duties, giving us options on the left flank together with Joharie first, and Syafiq later.
I had a great chance to score the first goal of the match when, from Azmi's freekick on the halfway line, I was unmarked and should have headed his cross to score. However, I mistimed my jump as the ball sailed over my head instead. That was my last contribution up till that point. Almost immediately, our opponents scored the opening goal. We conceded a freekick from a distance but there was a communication breakdown and the opponents took a quick freekick. Take nothing away, it was a fabulous strike that caught Yazier out at the corner of his right side of goal, but it was a cheap goal for us to concede as we fell behind for the first time this season.
Syafiq, rested at half-time, had again came on for Kelvin before that goal, and almost immediately scored the equalizer. He met Azman's deep freekick but was unfortunate to see his header cannoned off the crossbar. I then came back into the match in place of a tiring Helmi. Syafiq was again lively when he met Rahman's pass first, and my pass later, as he found freedom and open space on the left side of our attack. I was also fortunate to find myself through on goal as the ball came to me following a defensive bobble. It took enough deflection off me however to take it away from danger. From the follow-up, the chance was lost after my poor attempted shot. We tried hard to force an equalizer even as our defence stood firm. Our hopes were then raised when there was a strong penalty appeal. Rahman's throw-in on the right flank was meant for me inside the penalty box but their defender seemed to have control of the situation. However, the ball struck his raised arm and many a times, we have seen a similar penalty been given and even the opponents looked ready to concede one. Despite our appeal, the referee waved it away and time eventually ran out for us.
It was a tight game that was settled after quick thinking on the opponents' part when they scored the freekick, which we should have dealt with as soon as it was given. However, for the main part, we defended superbly, even if it was deeper in defence than we would have liked. Our attack took awhile to settle down and get into shape but when it did, we were bright and menacing. Tactics and personnel did weigh in on my mind as a form of after-match review, given the opponents' pace today, and we would look to rebound from this setback and move on to our next game. Of course, it was disappointing that we did not go into next week's awesome 100th match with a fourth win in a row, but we will look for another run again.
Akim
Rest of league results
Kambing FC suffered its first defeat of the season on a pitch that has been our bogey playing ground in our last three matches here at Fuchun Secondary School. Ever the statistician, I compiled the list of fields we have played on so far and our results on each field are as shown in the picture above.
Back to the real story. We started the match with 4 central midfielders as Azman and Rahman took up the forward roles. The opponents' hard running on and off the ball belied their current league position as we got off to a nervous start defensively. Azman did have two early shots on goal to compensate for the pressure.
Yazier, starting in goal, had to keep out an early low shot on as we strived to find our rhythm and control the pace of our game regardless the efforts of our opponents. The resulting corner was dangerous and saw the ball sailed across our goal but no significant contact was made to turn it into the net. The challenges were feisty early on as yellow cards were awarded to players from both teams. Even Andrew, making his league debut, got into the book for the wrong reason when he unwittingly got onto the pitch without the referee's knowledge when he came on for Rashid, our earlier recipient of the card.
I was then bundled over by three defenders and earned a freekick in a promising position. I took the kick but while the ball managed to gain height, it was always curving away from goal. Syafiq, starting his first league game for us this season, came on for Kelvin and immediately made an impact. Up till then, the opponents were having a lion's share of the possession and looked threatening on the attack. Yazier was forced to make another save later on as the chaotic situation, caused by the opponents' blistering start, stabilised into calmness. We soon had our rhythm and initiated dangerous attacks of our own. Amin split their defence with a wonderful pass for Syafiq inside the penalty box. Syafiq's initial shot was blocked but he kept going. However, he was perhaps a little selfish as he hopelessly tried to drill the ball home when Helmi, who was a constant outlet on the left and moved infield later in the half, was left unmarked behind him on the edge of the box and an empty goal ahead beckoned. As Farhan came on for Rahman, a built-up play from the right flank saw me playing the ball first time towards his path on the edge of the box. With a marker tightly onto him, Farhan still managed to shoot and gained a corner. We were looking dangerous and inventive as the pace of the match began to recede comfortably into half-time.
After the break, Rahman and myself took grip of the centre of midfield and we immediately looked a better team. Andrew was a useful addition to the backline and combined well with Kelvin on our right flank after the restart. Kelvin had to defend more today and his attacking instincts were compromised, but his defensive work helped the team a lot. Shahril and Azmi, who were both flustered with our midfield, were a true last line of defence and kept repelling our opponents' advances. Rashid was also doing his part as he combined attacking and defending duties, giving us options on the left flank together with Joharie first, and Syafiq later.
I had a great chance to score the first goal of the match when, from Azmi's freekick on the halfway line, I was unmarked and should have headed his cross to score. However, I mistimed my jump as the ball sailed over my head instead. That was my last contribution up till that point. Almost immediately, our opponents scored the opening goal. We conceded a freekick from a distance but there was a communication breakdown and the opponents took a quick freekick. Take nothing away, it was a fabulous strike that caught Yazier out at the corner of his right side of goal, but it was a cheap goal for us to concede as we fell behind for the first time this season.
Syafiq, rested at half-time, had again came on for Kelvin before that goal, and almost immediately scored the equalizer. He met Azman's deep freekick but was unfortunate to see his header cannoned off the crossbar. I then came back into the match in place of a tiring Helmi. Syafiq was again lively when he met Rahman's pass first, and my pass later, as he found freedom and open space on the left side of our attack. I was also fortunate to find myself through on goal as the ball came to me following a defensive bobble. It took enough deflection off me however to take it away from danger. From the follow-up, the chance was lost after my poor attempted shot. We tried hard to force an equalizer even as our defence stood firm. Our hopes were then raised when there was a strong penalty appeal. Rahman's throw-in on the right flank was meant for me inside the penalty box but their defender seemed to have control of the situation. However, the ball struck his raised arm and many a times, we have seen a similar penalty been given and even the opponents looked ready to concede one. Despite our appeal, the referee waved it away and time eventually ran out for us.
It was a tight game that was settled after quick thinking on the opponents' part when they scored the freekick, which we should have dealt with as soon as it was given. However, for the main part, we defended superbly, even if it was deeper in defence than we would have liked. Our attack took awhile to settle down and get into shape but when it did, we were bright and menacing. Tactics and personnel did weigh in on my mind as a form of after-match review, given the opponents' pace today, and we would look to rebound from this setback and move on to our next game. Of course, it was disappointing that we did not go into next week's awesome 100th match with a fourth win in a row, but we will look for another run again.
Akim