Scorers (assists)
Farhan (pen)
Man Of The Match
Akim (6)
Salleh (5) - solid rightback and excellent when overlapping
Shahril (2)
Farhan (2)
Danial (1)
Azman (1)
Danial (GK)
Salleh - Shahril - Azmi - Firdaus Masdar
Kelvin - Azman - Akim - Shafi
Farhan - Huang
Subs:
Andrew
Bay
Karim
Joharie
Helmi
Rafeeq
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Kambing FC suffered its 3rd consecutive defeat on a match played at Seng Kang Secondary. It was a marked improvement from the defeat last week as we dominated the game from the start, and did not shy away to take the game to the opponents. Thus, the scoreline was an unfair reflection of our performance.
We did everything right except score a goal in the first half. We utilized both flanks to good effect as both Shafi and Kelvin enjoyed their attacking forays, with Salleh, making his first start for the team, excelling at right back and provided an extra dimension. Huang, who has been a versatile, utility player recently, impressed with his back-to-goal display as the main striker and Farhan was a constant link in his supporting striker role. Our defence was relatively untroubled from the sporadic opponent counterattacks that led to some physical battles and tussles for the ball. Danial, returning in goal after a long absence, comfortably dealt with the odd loose balls.
I had an early stab at goal from a corner, while Farhan's header from Kelvin's cross was not wide of the mark and Huang could not react to a loose ball in the goalmouth area. The opponent GK did not have to make that many saves but we continued to threaten, although we were wayward at times with our passes, especially in midfield, which continued in the second half. We were playing perhaps our best first half football but had no goals to show for it.
I will take the blame for the team selection for the start of the second half, which snuffed out some of the bite and menace that we had shown in the first half. Karim, on as a substitute and also returning from a long absence, showed he still has plenty of room for improvement. While he has plenty of pace, he must learn to use the ball effectively. He is still a young player though, and has plenty of time on his side. Bay, one of our GKs up till now, made his first outfield appearance for the team at left-back. His inexperience showed but he also showed glimpses of potential and added balance to the team as a left-legged player. Apart from that, other than Salleh who replaced Azman in midfield, we had a regular team for the start of the second half.
We were not unduly weakened and retained possession long enough to launch decent attacking moves. We let ourselves down in the final third, however, where the attack fizzled out too quickly as we failed to crank the pressure up there.
The opponents started to come into their own. Danial made his first crucial save of the game early in the second half, palming away a likely goal. Against the run of play, they took an undeserved lead after a good build-up led to an attack down the right flank. While the cross was whipped in well into the danger area, there was a suspicion of offside when the scorer came behind our defence to head in past Danial. In spite of that, we could and should have defended that cross better.
We almost quickly equalized when Helmi's freekick struck the crossbar and with their defence all at sea, the ball almost dropped for either Azmi and Andrew to tap in from close range. Unfortunately, it did not drop kindly enough.
We were punished when the opponents doubled their lead. As mentioned earlier, we were wayward with our passes in midfield at times and this time, I was guilty of giving the ball away which led to a quick counterattack. As the opponent received the pass on the left flank, in another close, but right, offside position, he bore down on goal past Andrew rather too casually, and played the ball across the penalty box. His teammate made no mistakes to beat Danial at his near post.
They tripled their lead when, yet again, we lost the ball in midfield. The counterattack was on and another tight offside decision went our way, but this time, Bay may have played the opponent on. Our defence was split across the middle as the opponent got through on a one-on-one with Danial. Our custodian made the first save and the ball fell loose on the left flank to an opponent. He dribbled past two defenders and took a shot to score when he beat Danial, which was again at the near post.
We were down and out but we continued to play football and intricate, close passing beckoned a good spell for us. The opponents defended deep and open space in the dangerous areas was a luxury. We manage to carve them apart but there will always be another defender to cover. Some refereeing decisions frustrated us including a blatant foul on myself that was not called but we finally scored a goal, a scant consolation it might be.
Good work on the right flank from a throw-in again led to dainty, passing football, which eventually fell to me outside the box. I have been dreaming of this moment for so long as I surged into the box with the ball and was taken down to earn the penalty. Fatigued, I appointed Farhan to convert the spot-kick and he did so with a composed, but tricky effort down the middle, with the GK fortunately sidefooted.
Immediately after the restart, the opponents regained their 3 goal advantage when our defence was split again through the middle. The opponent took on the shot well with a confident goal. My late effort, a long-range shot that was just over the bar, was the last action of the game as we suffered a hefty defeat.
The desire to gain something from this match was apparent, even on the sidelines, right from the start. We put up a strong display but we again failed to convert our chances and found the net only late in the match. In a matter of minutes, we were undone in the second half against the run of play. As a result, the defeat, coupled with a flattering scoreline in favor of the opponents, was tough to take. All around, we can still take heart from our own performance. Tactical-wise, I am not going to shirk away with my decision-making, and I have learnt a lesson or two. On hindsight, the team selection for the start of the second half, coming off the back of an impressive first, was perhaps something I should not have tinkered with too much. We will build again.
With four league games to go, including matches with two title contenders, we are again in a position to have some say in the destiny of the title, which we will now concede is probably out of our hands. We turn our focus to the cup competition for our first silverware, but not without aiming to end the league season with a flourish too. A two weeks' break beckoned with the holidays around the corner, so I hope we take this time to rejuvenate ourselves away from soccer.
Akim
Shahril: Midfield did not track counterattacks. Better to stop playing high line. I think Andrew is more comfortable at centre with Azmi (edited).
My note: We will try out a dedicated DM next game and will revert Andrew alongside Azmi
Salleh has probably nailed down the rightback role and I hope to see more of him. His versatility is useful to the team.
Bay has a good left leg and we will play him more for experience and balance. He can always look to Firdaus for reference, who has been a vastly improved player from when he first started out.
Rest of league results
Kambing FC suffered its 3rd consecutive defeat on a match played at Seng Kang Secondary. It was a marked improvement from the defeat last week as we dominated the game from the start, and did not shy away to take the game to the opponents. Thus, the scoreline was an unfair reflection of our performance.
We did everything right except score a goal in the first half. We utilized both flanks to good effect as both Shafi and Kelvin enjoyed their attacking forays, with Salleh, making his first start for the team, excelling at right back and provided an extra dimension. Huang, who has been a versatile, utility player recently, impressed with his back-to-goal display as the main striker and Farhan was a constant link in his supporting striker role. Our defence was relatively untroubled from the sporadic opponent counterattacks that led to some physical battles and tussles for the ball. Danial, returning in goal after a long absence, comfortably dealt with the odd loose balls.
I had an early stab at goal from a corner, while Farhan's header from Kelvin's cross was not wide of the mark and Huang could not react to a loose ball in the goalmouth area. The opponent GK did not have to make that many saves but we continued to threaten, although we were wayward at times with our passes, especially in midfield, which continued in the second half. We were playing perhaps our best first half football but had no goals to show for it.
I will take the blame for the team selection for the start of the second half, which snuffed out some of the bite and menace that we had shown in the first half. Karim, on as a substitute and also returning from a long absence, showed he still has plenty of room for improvement. While he has plenty of pace, he must learn to use the ball effectively. He is still a young player though, and has plenty of time on his side. Bay, one of our GKs up till now, made his first outfield appearance for the team at left-back. His inexperience showed but he also showed glimpses of potential and added balance to the team as a left-legged player. Apart from that, other than Salleh who replaced Azman in midfield, we had a regular team for the start of the second half.
We were not unduly weakened and retained possession long enough to launch decent attacking moves. We let ourselves down in the final third, however, where the attack fizzled out too quickly as we failed to crank the pressure up there.
The opponents started to come into their own. Danial made his first crucial save of the game early in the second half, palming away a likely goal. Against the run of play, they took an undeserved lead after a good build-up led to an attack down the right flank. While the cross was whipped in well into the danger area, there was a suspicion of offside when the scorer came behind our defence to head in past Danial. In spite of that, we could and should have defended that cross better.
We almost quickly equalized when Helmi's freekick struck the crossbar and with their defence all at sea, the ball almost dropped for either Azmi and Andrew to tap in from close range. Unfortunately, it did not drop kindly enough.
We were punished when the opponents doubled their lead. As mentioned earlier, we were wayward with our passes in midfield at times and this time, I was guilty of giving the ball away which led to a quick counterattack. As the opponent received the pass on the left flank, in another close, but right, offside position, he bore down on goal past Andrew rather too casually, and played the ball across the penalty box. His teammate made no mistakes to beat Danial at his near post.
They tripled their lead when, yet again, we lost the ball in midfield. The counterattack was on and another tight offside decision went our way, but this time, Bay may have played the opponent on. Our defence was split across the middle as the opponent got through on a one-on-one with Danial. Our custodian made the first save and the ball fell loose on the left flank to an opponent. He dribbled past two defenders and took a shot to score when he beat Danial, which was again at the near post.
We were down and out but we continued to play football and intricate, close passing beckoned a good spell for us. The opponents defended deep and open space in the dangerous areas was a luxury. We manage to carve them apart but there will always be another defender to cover. Some refereeing decisions frustrated us including a blatant foul on myself that was not called but we finally scored a goal, a scant consolation it might be.
Good work on the right flank from a throw-in again led to dainty, passing football, which eventually fell to me outside the box. I have been dreaming of this moment for so long as I surged into the box with the ball and was taken down to earn the penalty. Fatigued, I appointed Farhan to convert the spot-kick and he did so with a composed, but tricky effort down the middle, with the GK fortunately sidefooted.
Immediately after the restart, the opponents regained their 3 goal advantage when our defence was split again through the middle. The opponent took on the shot well with a confident goal. My late effort, a long-range shot that was just over the bar, was the last action of the game as we suffered a hefty defeat.
The desire to gain something from this match was apparent, even on the sidelines, right from the start. We put up a strong display but we again failed to convert our chances and found the net only late in the match. In a matter of minutes, we were undone in the second half against the run of play. As a result, the defeat, coupled with a flattering scoreline in favor of the opponents, was tough to take. All around, we can still take heart from our own performance. Tactical-wise, I am not going to shirk away with my decision-making, and I have learnt a lesson or two. On hindsight, the team selection for the start of the second half, coming off the back of an impressive first, was perhaps something I should not have tinkered with too much. We will build again.
With four league games to go, including matches with two title contenders, we are again in a position to have some say in the destiny of the title, which we will now concede is probably out of our hands. We turn our focus to the cup competition for our first silverware, but not without aiming to end the league season with a flourish too. A two weeks' break beckoned with the holidays around the corner, so I hope we take this time to rejuvenate ourselves away from soccer.
Akim
Shahril: Midfield did not track counterattacks. Better to stop playing high line. I think Andrew is more comfortable at centre with Azmi (edited).
My note: We will try out a dedicated DM next game and will revert Andrew alongside Azmi
Salleh has probably nailed down the rightback role and I hope to see more of him. His versatility is useful to the team.
Bay has a good left leg and we will play him more for experience and balance. He can always look to Firdaus for reference, who has been a vastly improved player from when he first started out.