Scorers (assists)
Akim (Shahreen)
Fazli (-)
Man Of The Match
the entire team played well but Huang, Weilun, Azmi and Fairuz caught the eye
Wilson (GK)
Edmund - Weilun - Azmi - Fazli
Kevin - Huang - Azman - Fairuz
Akim - Rafeeq
Subs:
Bay
Shahreen
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Kambing FC played a friendly game after a week's break and I was delighted with the performance of a slightly revamped team. We could have even won the game had it not been for an unlucky ricochet in the dying minutes of the match. Edmund returned to the line-up after a long absence and Weilun was a debutant in central defence. Apart from that, the team had a familiar set-up. It certainly helped that we were playing against a team that we can pit ourselves on a more level playing ground.
Azmi and Weilun made an instant impressive partnership even though we did suffer jittery moments as the opponents pressed hard in both halves. We also may have lack in skills and technical ability but we made up for it with a spirited and determined performance. A one-nil deficit at half-time, when the opponents broke through almost casually on our left side of defence and finished well by the opponent, was a fair reflection of how the game had gone. We looked shaky and struggled to retain possession and maintained our composure to a decent degree, which would have been punished by better teams. Still, we managed to push forward to launch our own attacks. Azman first, and Shahreen later, assisted to link the play while Huang, while still trying to find his bearings, managed to screen our defence. Fairuz was also a constant outlet on both flanks. Even Kevin was a decent threat on the right flank for a period in the first half.
We amended the formation for the second half and it paid off, as Azman, Shahreen and Huang featured in midfield. Shahreen was clearly a stabilising effect while Azman linked up well with him. Huang had finally found his bearings and was superb in that anchor position to protect our defence. We absorbed some pressure after the restart but finally found a good rhythm when going forward. I should have done better after Shahreen played a wonderful lobbed through pass but I failed to get the decisive touch. Following a well-worked build-up, Fairuz then saw his stunning first-time left-footed volley outside saved well by the GK. I made amends for my earlier miss when I scored a header from Shahreen's corner to draw the score level.
Fazli had a left-footed shot easily saved. I again failed to get the decisive touch, that will have seen us taking the lead, from another lobbed through pass set up by Rafeeq's immaculate first-time pass. We had a secret weapon in our hands though, when we took the lead from Fazli's famed long throw. At least two opponents got a touch from his throw, which deceived the GK at his near post.
We attempted to adopt a cautious approach to protect our lead and it looked to be working as Weilun and Azmi led the defence by example. When going forward, we kept possession of the ball well. The opponents continued to press us and after some threatening shots and chances, they equalized from a cruelest of ricochet as Azmi's attempted clearance could only strike an opponent's legs that beat Bay, who was a replacement for Wilson in the last quarter of the match, at his near post. In a potentially interesting twist, Wilson rose highest to meet Fazli's corner but his header went well wide in what was the last action of the match.
There was a sense of fresh air from the team today. It is not so much that we are turning a corner, but the spirit felt right and the determination was plain to see. Our fitness was tested to the limit, and our technical ability and composure is something we can improve. On the whole, a draw was perhaps justified but I was pleased with how we responded to what I feel was a debacle in our prior last two games. We have one last league game to play, which is suffering a poor stop-start end due to a variety of reasons, but I hope our performance this past game can be something for the team to build on for a fresh campaign. It is still early for optimism.
Akim
Rest of league results
Kambing FC played a friendly game after a week's break and I was delighted with the performance of a slightly revamped team. We could have even won the game had it not been for an unlucky ricochet in the dying minutes of the match. Edmund returned to the line-up after a long absence and Weilun was a debutant in central defence. Apart from that, the team had a familiar set-up. It certainly helped that we were playing against a team that we can pit ourselves on a more level playing ground.
Azmi and Weilun made an instant impressive partnership even though we did suffer jittery moments as the opponents pressed hard in both halves. We also may have lack in skills and technical ability but we made up for it with a spirited and determined performance. A one-nil deficit at half-time, when the opponents broke through almost casually on our left side of defence and finished well by the opponent, was a fair reflection of how the game had gone. We looked shaky and struggled to retain possession and maintained our composure to a decent degree, which would have been punished by better teams. Still, we managed to push forward to launch our own attacks. Azman first, and Shahreen later, assisted to link the play while Huang, while still trying to find his bearings, managed to screen our defence. Fairuz was also a constant outlet on both flanks. Even Kevin was a decent threat on the right flank for a period in the first half.
We amended the formation for the second half and it paid off, as Azman, Shahreen and Huang featured in midfield. Shahreen was clearly a stabilising effect while Azman linked up well with him. Huang had finally found his bearings and was superb in that anchor position to protect our defence. We absorbed some pressure after the restart but finally found a good rhythm when going forward. I should have done better after Shahreen played a wonderful lobbed through pass but I failed to get the decisive touch. Following a well-worked build-up, Fairuz then saw his stunning first-time left-footed volley outside saved well by the GK. I made amends for my earlier miss when I scored a header from Shahreen's corner to draw the score level.
Fazli had a left-footed shot easily saved. I again failed to get the decisive touch, that will have seen us taking the lead, from another lobbed through pass set up by Rafeeq's immaculate first-time pass. We had a secret weapon in our hands though, when we took the lead from Fazli's famed long throw. At least two opponents got a touch from his throw, which deceived the GK at his near post.
We attempted to adopt a cautious approach to protect our lead and it looked to be working as Weilun and Azmi led the defence by example. When going forward, we kept possession of the ball well. The opponents continued to press us and after some threatening shots and chances, they equalized from a cruelest of ricochet as Azmi's attempted clearance could only strike an opponent's legs that beat Bay, who was a replacement for Wilson in the last quarter of the match, at his near post. In a potentially interesting twist, Wilson rose highest to meet Fazli's corner but his header went well wide in what was the last action of the match.
There was a sense of fresh air from the team today. It is not so much that we are turning a corner, but the spirit felt right and the determination was plain to see. Our fitness was tested to the limit, and our technical ability and composure is something we can improve. On the whole, a draw was perhaps justified but I was pleased with how we responded to what I feel was a debacle in our prior last two games. We have one last league game to play, which is suffering a poor stop-start end due to a variety of reasons, but I hope our performance this past game can be something for the team to build on for a fresh campaign. It is still early for optimism.
Akim