Scorers (assists)
Rahman (Omar)
Huang (-)
Man Of The Match
Akim (5)
Shahril (4) - tried his best in defence
Bay (2)
Huang (2) - broke his goalscoring drought and proved his versatility yet again
Bay (GK)
Huang - Shahril - Azmi - Shafi
Omar - Azman - Akim - Helmi
Rahman - Joharie
Subs:
Andrew
Firdaus Masdar
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Kambing FC lost some ground in the title race in Div 3 after suffering an emphatic 2-4 loss to Team Tsubasa on the small pitch at Clementi Town Sec. As a result, Team Tsubasa and Kentridge Rangers, who handed league leaders Forza Ze East a 1-0 defeat, leapfrogged us into 2nd and 3rd, pushing us into 4th place, and one point separating all 4 teams at the top.
The team started with Bay, who made his first appearance this season in the friendly last week, in goal again, albeit through some miscommuncation with regular GK Wilson. Jo, who also played well last week, was also given a start up front. It started so well for us when Azman and I had snap shots that went just high over the bar. The opponents eased into the game and soon, it was a real battle of wits between both teams to make space on a less than regular-sized pitch. We took the initiative after one such battle was won, when Omar was afforded time on the right flank with the ball and earned a freekick. Omar took the freekick himself and Rahman, starting as a striker yet again, reacted first to head in his first league goal of the season.
The opponents then powered their way into the game, as we lost out on almost every aerial challenges, from both the opponents' and our own punts. Shahril was barking orders from the back, demanding the team to get tighter on the opponents. Time and again, however, we were caught out by knockdowns into empty spaces followed by some hard running with dribbles and forays toward our penalty box. We were chasing shadows at times.
We conceded numerous corners and set-pieces and the short distances proved to be a real menace for us as we were simply lacklustre in defending them, if not for Bay's heroics in goal, a goal-line clearance by Shafi and frantic clearances in the goalmouth. We were decent while going forward but lacked the team mentality or the composure to retain possession. We were relieved to go into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Necessary shuffle was made, though a bare looking bench was not good for team morale. There was a pensive mood at half-time, I feel, but we talked the game through up till then, and motivated each other for the team. However, we defended too deeply after the restart. The opponents gained key momentum as Bay was tested repeatedly in goal but our custodian was putting on a show with fine stops, even though his clearance was not wholly convincing. The opponents were not deterred and their patience paid off when they finally scored a deserved equalizer from another corner.
Jo and I came on for Rahman and Helmi and we immediately pegged them back with good combination play leading to the chance of the match for us. I was played through by Jo at the edge of the box, and in turn, I released Huang with a nicely-weighted pass in his path. Inexplicably, with only the GK to beat, and despite a marker heckling him close behind, Huang spurned the glorious opportunity for the team to regain the lead when he fluffed his shot. That miss seemed to spur him on however, as he doggedly worked back and forth for the team, as he attempted to make up for the miss.
It was a valiant effort but we were punished by another defensive lapse as the opponents took a 2-1 lead. When Azmi failed to control a pass at the back, the opponent capitalized and rolled a pass just outside the box for his team-mate, who took it first time to drive a low shot home.
We fell further behind minutes later. Bay had again saved brilliantly from an opponent's shot off a cross, which seemed to deflect off the crossbar. The ball rebounded kindly on our goal-line as the opponent scrambled in the loose ball.
We were deflated and things got worse when we conceded another goal from another corner. No one failed to track the surged run of the scorer, who powerfully headed the ball into the net.
We were heading for our heaviest defeat of the season but creditably, we played on to put some pressure on the opponents. I had a freekick saved and our other freekicks and corners at least made the GK worked about in his box. Our persistence finally paid off when Huang finally made amends to make the score more respectable. Another freekick was not cleared by their defence, which followed a mad scramble for the loose ball. The GK was taken out of the equation and Huang's header, off a loose high ball, beat a defender on the goal-line into the net. It meant Huang had broke a long scoring drought to score his first leaue goal of the season.
The scoreline was a fair reflection of our defeat. Defensive lapses played a part but the opponents did well to create their own luck. There was no lack of desire from both teams, with some meaty challenges, Huang's doggedness, Shahril's voice and Rahman's tenacity all highlighting a part of the team's will to win. Yet, we needed to show more to prove we are genuine title contenders and in that, we failed to do so. Still, with only one point behind the league leaders and sitting in 4th place, I hope this defeat, and the disappointing 2-2 draw in our previous league game before this, will provide some platform for us to finish the season as best as we can, even as we continue the hunt for glory.
Akim
Rest of league results
Kambing FC lost some ground in the title race in Div 3 after suffering an emphatic 2-4 loss to Team Tsubasa on the small pitch at Clementi Town Sec. As a result, Team Tsubasa and Kentridge Rangers, who handed league leaders Forza Ze East a 1-0 defeat, leapfrogged us into 2nd and 3rd, pushing us into 4th place, and one point separating all 4 teams at the top.
The team started with Bay, who made his first appearance this season in the friendly last week, in goal again, albeit through some miscommuncation with regular GK Wilson. Jo, who also played well last week, was also given a start up front. It started so well for us when Azman and I had snap shots that went just high over the bar. The opponents eased into the game and soon, it was a real battle of wits between both teams to make space on a less than regular-sized pitch. We took the initiative after one such battle was won, when Omar was afforded time on the right flank with the ball and earned a freekick. Omar took the freekick himself and Rahman, starting as a striker yet again, reacted first to head in his first league goal of the season.
The opponents then powered their way into the game, as we lost out on almost every aerial challenges, from both the opponents' and our own punts. Shahril was barking orders from the back, demanding the team to get tighter on the opponents. Time and again, however, we were caught out by knockdowns into empty spaces followed by some hard running with dribbles and forays toward our penalty box. We were chasing shadows at times.
We conceded numerous corners and set-pieces and the short distances proved to be a real menace for us as we were simply lacklustre in defending them, if not for Bay's heroics in goal, a goal-line clearance by Shafi and frantic clearances in the goalmouth. We were decent while going forward but lacked the team mentality or the composure to retain possession. We were relieved to go into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Necessary shuffle was made, though a bare looking bench was not good for team morale. There was a pensive mood at half-time, I feel, but we talked the game through up till then, and motivated each other for the team. However, we defended too deeply after the restart. The opponents gained key momentum as Bay was tested repeatedly in goal but our custodian was putting on a show with fine stops, even though his clearance was not wholly convincing. The opponents were not deterred and their patience paid off when they finally scored a deserved equalizer from another corner.
Jo and I came on for Rahman and Helmi and we immediately pegged them back with good combination play leading to the chance of the match for us. I was played through by Jo at the edge of the box, and in turn, I released Huang with a nicely-weighted pass in his path. Inexplicably, with only the GK to beat, and despite a marker heckling him close behind, Huang spurned the glorious opportunity for the team to regain the lead when he fluffed his shot. That miss seemed to spur him on however, as he doggedly worked back and forth for the team, as he attempted to make up for the miss.
It was a valiant effort but we were punished by another defensive lapse as the opponents took a 2-1 lead. When Azmi failed to control a pass at the back, the opponent capitalized and rolled a pass just outside the box for his team-mate, who took it first time to drive a low shot home.
We fell further behind minutes later. Bay had again saved brilliantly from an opponent's shot off a cross, which seemed to deflect off the crossbar. The ball rebounded kindly on our goal-line as the opponent scrambled in the loose ball.
We were deflated and things got worse when we conceded another goal from another corner. No one failed to track the surged run of the scorer, who powerfully headed the ball into the net.
We were heading for our heaviest defeat of the season but creditably, we played on to put some pressure on the opponents. I had a freekick saved and our other freekicks and corners at least made the GK worked about in his box. Our persistence finally paid off when Huang finally made amends to make the score more respectable. Another freekick was not cleared by their defence, which followed a mad scramble for the loose ball. The GK was taken out of the equation and Huang's header, off a loose high ball, beat a defender on the goal-line into the net. It meant Huang had broke a long scoring drought to score his first leaue goal of the season.
The scoreline was a fair reflection of our defeat. Defensive lapses played a part but the opponents did well to create their own luck. There was no lack of desire from both teams, with some meaty challenges, Huang's doggedness, Shahril's voice and Rahman's tenacity all highlighting a part of the team's will to win. Yet, we needed to show more to prove we are genuine title contenders and in that, we failed to do so. Still, with only one point behind the league leaders and sitting in 4th place, I hope this defeat, and the disappointing 2-2 draw in our previous league game before this, will provide some platform for us to finish the season as best as we can, even as we continue the hunt for glory.
Akim