Scorers (assists)
Shafi (Azmi)
Shafi pen
Man Of The Match
Shafi - unlikely goal scorer of an even rarer brace. we all hope to see more goals from him in the league! Earned a piece of history when he scored the team's 200th and 201st goals!!
Bay (GK)
Kevin - Akim - Azmi - Firdaus Masdar
Kelvin - Rahman - Azman - Shafi
Joharie - Huang
Subs:
Wilson (GK)
Andrew
Boy
Jurgen
Yazier
Ai
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Kambing FC got through another monumental moment in its history when Shafi scored the team's 200th and 201st goals on a great pitch at Sembawang Sec, apart from a slight downslope. We took a break from the league to win 2-0, through Shafi's rare brace, in this competitive friendly match against our strong veteran opponents. We have had a stop-start season in the league in the past one month thereabouts, so this break was not really that welcome given the purple patch we are experiencing at the moment. Still, I told the team to treat this friendly as a league match and the opponents did not disappoint and provided us a stern test. Apart from Bay, Jo and Kevin, I opted to start with the players who are regulars in the current season to adopt a league game-mentality approach to the match. I reverted myself in the heart of defence alongside Azmi, with Andrew, who was recovering from fever, on the bench. The bench included three debutants, in the absence of players from the main squad, while Yazier was poised to start as an outfield player with Wilson as back-up GK.
We got out of the blocks well and any doubts that the fasting month would take its toll on the Muslim players seemed to be dispelled with our confident, assured start. The opponents, with a distinct height advantage, were happy with the long ball approach that caused some concern in our defence. One such punt bounced wickedly in our penalty box, which Bay reacted superbly to tip away. We kept tidy possession on our part, and Joharie was looking very lively up front, with an impressive display alongside Huang, who was also recovering from fever. Jo earned a freekick from a promising position and we attempted a quick freekick but ended as a botched attempt.
We took the lead when Azmi's deep freekick on the halfway line was met by Shafi's merest touch of a glancing header. In a sea of tall players, it was one of the shortest that met Azmi's cross, which made the feat an even more notable one.
Jo earned another freekick later after Kelvin's superb pass split the defence, but I could only hit the wall with my attempt. We continued to press as the opponents also reacted in search of an equalizer. As our debutants strut onto the pitch, there was always a fear that the unfamiliarity will take the edge of our play but, the debutants started impressively too. Rahman had a freekick attempt easily saved and Ai was threatening as a striker, while Boy looked menacing on the left flank, having came on for Shafi. Jurgen looked like a fit for the team in central midfield too. As the first half draws to a close, the opponents were pressing us deep in our half and we attempted to capitalize by beating their high offside line, with a few close calls going against us. We were barely hanging onto keep our lead going into the break.
The second half was even more competitive than the first in what was an exciting game, with end-to-end action from both teams. Our opponents were clearly looking sharper as the match wore on, and were passing the ball better rather punting it forward this time. Wilson, keeping goal for this half, was called into action on numerous occasions. With Ai rested for the second half, Joharie picked up from where he left us, and combined well with Shafi, who himself was looking a real threat more than ever on the right midfield in this half. Both Joharie and Yazier had good, clean attempts on goal while Boy, deployed as a left-back this half, bombed forward on his flank, giving us an additional option.
Our defence tried to be more watertight but did find ourselves ripped apart on the edge of the box far too often. We were not punished however due to the opponents' wastefulness in front of goal. When Ai and I came on, I had an immediate low shot saved while Ai displayed promise with his long-range shooting. Bay came on in goal again for Wilson, who spent the last few minutes as a right-back replacement for Kevin, who himself had put in an excellent shift.
With minutes remaining, we were holding on to secure the victory but were looking for the all-important second goal. It was Shafi who grabbed the headlines, when he caused a moment of concern for the opponents' defence. The opponent, while attempting to clear the ball, committed a instinctive handball offence instead inside the box, which was spotted well by the referee and we were awarded a penalty.
Shafi confidently stepped up the first time and netted it low into the left, only to be called back to take it again, as he had breached a rule in the run-up. He confidently stepped up again to send the ball into the right this time, while the GK stood still, perhaps anticipating Shafi might go for the same spot. When Shafi converted the penalty, this was amazingly our 4th game running that we have been given this decision. Four different scorers, myself, Helmi, Farhan and now Shafi, had taken each penalty successfully. I was also glad that both Bay and Wilson combined to keep a clean sheet.
We now go into next week's expected league game on an excellent form, with only two defeats from our last eight games, as we continue to wrestle for glory. The fine displays, from both regular and fringe players, and the debut of three others, were heartening to see and has certainly given me a pleasant selection headache ahead of next week.
Akim
Rest of league results
Kambing FC got through another monumental moment in its history when Shafi scored the team's 200th and 201st goals on a great pitch at Sembawang Sec, apart from a slight downslope. We took a break from the league to win 2-0, through Shafi's rare brace, in this competitive friendly match against our strong veteran opponents. We have had a stop-start season in the league in the past one month thereabouts, so this break was not really that welcome given the purple patch we are experiencing at the moment. Still, I told the team to treat this friendly as a league match and the opponents did not disappoint and provided us a stern test. Apart from Bay, Jo and Kevin, I opted to start with the players who are regulars in the current season to adopt a league game-mentality approach to the match. I reverted myself in the heart of defence alongside Azmi, with Andrew, who was recovering from fever, on the bench. The bench included three debutants, in the absence of players from the main squad, while Yazier was poised to start as an outfield player with Wilson as back-up GK.
We got out of the blocks well and any doubts that the fasting month would take its toll on the Muslim players seemed to be dispelled with our confident, assured start. The opponents, with a distinct height advantage, were happy with the long ball approach that caused some concern in our defence. One such punt bounced wickedly in our penalty box, which Bay reacted superbly to tip away. We kept tidy possession on our part, and Joharie was looking very lively up front, with an impressive display alongside Huang, who was also recovering from fever. Jo earned a freekick from a promising position and we attempted a quick freekick but ended as a botched attempt.
We took the lead when Azmi's deep freekick on the halfway line was met by Shafi's merest touch of a glancing header. In a sea of tall players, it was one of the shortest that met Azmi's cross, which made the feat an even more notable one.
Jo earned another freekick later after Kelvin's superb pass split the defence, but I could only hit the wall with my attempt. We continued to press as the opponents also reacted in search of an equalizer. As our debutants strut onto the pitch, there was always a fear that the unfamiliarity will take the edge of our play but, the debutants started impressively too. Rahman had a freekick attempt easily saved and Ai was threatening as a striker, while Boy looked menacing on the left flank, having came on for Shafi. Jurgen looked like a fit for the team in central midfield too. As the first half draws to a close, the opponents were pressing us deep in our half and we attempted to capitalize by beating their high offside line, with a few close calls going against us. We were barely hanging onto keep our lead going into the break.
The second half was even more competitive than the first in what was an exciting game, with end-to-end action from both teams. Our opponents were clearly looking sharper as the match wore on, and were passing the ball better rather punting it forward this time. Wilson, keeping goal for this half, was called into action on numerous occasions. With Ai rested for the second half, Joharie picked up from where he left us, and combined well with Shafi, who himself was looking a real threat more than ever on the right midfield in this half. Both Joharie and Yazier had good, clean attempts on goal while Boy, deployed as a left-back this half, bombed forward on his flank, giving us an additional option.
Our defence tried to be more watertight but did find ourselves ripped apart on the edge of the box far too often. We were not punished however due to the opponents' wastefulness in front of goal. When Ai and I came on, I had an immediate low shot saved while Ai displayed promise with his long-range shooting. Bay came on in goal again for Wilson, who spent the last few minutes as a right-back replacement for Kevin, who himself had put in an excellent shift.
With minutes remaining, we were holding on to secure the victory but were looking for the all-important second goal. It was Shafi who grabbed the headlines, when he caused a moment of concern for the opponents' defence. The opponent, while attempting to clear the ball, committed a instinctive handball offence instead inside the box, which was spotted well by the referee and we were awarded a penalty.
Shafi confidently stepped up the first time and netted it low into the left, only to be called back to take it again, as he had breached a rule in the run-up. He confidently stepped up again to send the ball into the right this time, while the GK stood still, perhaps anticipating Shafi might go for the same spot. When Shafi converted the penalty, this was amazingly our 4th game running that we have been given this decision. Four different scorers, myself, Helmi, Farhan and now Shafi, had taken each penalty successfully. I was also glad that both Bay and Wilson combined to keep a clean sheet.
We now go into next week's expected league game on an excellent form, with only two defeats from our last eight games, as we continue to wrestle for glory. The fine displays, from both regular and fringe players, and the debut of three others, were heartening to see and has certainly given me a pleasant selection headache ahead of next week.
Akim