Scorers (assists)
Rafeeq (-)
Azman (-)
Akim (GK)
Kevin - Alim (debut) - Azmi - Farid
Yazier - Kelvin - Yongsheng - Azman - Omar
Nas
Subs:
Ariel Shahril
Joharie
Rahman
Rafeeq
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Yio Chu Kang Sec 3pm - Kambing FC continued its mini-revival with an impressive 2-1 win over previously undefeated league leaders Team Tsubasa. We finally have our maiden victory 5 games into this campaign. I again kept goal, while Omar compensated for Helmi's absence. Alim debuted alongside Azmi in the heart of defence and did well. He also proved, to a certain point, his versatility as a rightback. Kelvin reprised his newfound role in central midfield as Huang withdrew on matchday and newly-crowned daddy Rahman had to be content with a place on the bench after suffering sleepless nights in the past few days.
I was looking forward to play a prominent role against a team we can benchmarked ourselves with, so keeping goal was on the back of my mind, but it was a sacrifice for the greater good. The pep talk I gave in the run-up to this game, that we can beat this team, was meant to motivate myself, let alone the team. Instead, I almost gave the team an early meaningless scare a minute in when I fluffed a clearance that ricocheted high off an opponent inside our penalty box. Luckily, the richochet ended in a routine catch.
It was an end-to-end first half with Tsubasa creating the better chances from one-on-one situations and freekicks but I was up to the task. Nas was again cutting a lone figure up front but Omar was a pacy, direct outlet on the left flank.Out of the blue, we scored the opening goal. Rafeeq capitalized on a defensive lapse to score his 2nd league goal of the season. He is certainly making an impact coming off the bench.
Buoyed by the goal, we became more energetic. Having been generally pegged back in the 1st half, we sought to protect our lead by defending and maintaining possession further upfield in the 2nd. The strategy paid off when we won a freekick in a dangerous position. Azman, who came close last week, scored this time, albeit via a deflection, to open his league account.
With a 2-0 lead, we determinedly held on despite conceding freekicks in threatening areas again. I was again called upon to make saves while all our defenders put in crucial tackles, screened by a protective midfield that freshened itself in rotation, and a team effort by our strikers Rafeeq and Nas. Nas and Omar also conjured up some exciting moments, and even Kevin pushed forward once to stab a rare, if skyhigh, shot on goal. A deserved rare clean sheet appeared to be in our grasp but I was finally beaten by the softest of goals from a low freekick. I was flat-footed but I had made a mess of it when the ball slipped just beneath my hands to cut the deficit to 2-1. That set up a tense and nervous finale. We were defending desperately but the prospect of getting all 3 points emboldened us and delight was all around when the referee blew for fulltime.
We have now lost only once in 4 games. The win also snapped an unwanted winless streak that had been dragging from last season. We must not let this victory be a flash in the pan occurrence though and try to maintain this decent form.
Akim
Rest of league results
Yio Chu Kang Sec 3pm - Kambing FC continued its mini-revival with an impressive 2-1 win over previously undefeated league leaders Team Tsubasa. We finally have our maiden victory 5 games into this campaign. I again kept goal, while Omar compensated for Helmi's absence. Alim debuted alongside Azmi in the heart of defence and did well. He also proved, to a certain point, his versatility as a rightback. Kelvin reprised his newfound role in central midfield as Huang withdrew on matchday and newly-crowned daddy Rahman had to be content with a place on the bench after suffering sleepless nights in the past few days.
I was looking forward to play a prominent role against a team we can benchmarked ourselves with, so keeping goal was on the back of my mind, but it was a sacrifice for the greater good. The pep talk I gave in the run-up to this game, that we can beat this team, was meant to motivate myself, let alone the team. Instead, I almost gave the team an early meaningless scare a minute in when I fluffed a clearance that ricocheted high off an opponent inside our penalty box. Luckily, the richochet ended in a routine catch.
It was an end-to-end first half with Tsubasa creating the better chances from one-on-one situations and freekicks but I was up to the task. Nas was again cutting a lone figure up front but Omar was a pacy, direct outlet on the left flank.Out of the blue, we scored the opening goal. Rafeeq capitalized on a defensive lapse to score his 2nd league goal of the season. He is certainly making an impact coming off the bench.
Buoyed by the goal, we became more energetic. Having been generally pegged back in the 1st half, we sought to protect our lead by defending and maintaining possession further upfield in the 2nd. The strategy paid off when we won a freekick in a dangerous position. Azman, who came close last week, scored this time, albeit via a deflection, to open his league account.
With a 2-0 lead, we determinedly held on despite conceding freekicks in threatening areas again. I was again called upon to make saves while all our defenders put in crucial tackles, screened by a protective midfield that freshened itself in rotation, and a team effort by our strikers Rafeeq and Nas. Nas and Omar also conjured up some exciting moments, and even Kevin pushed forward once to stab a rare, if skyhigh, shot on goal. A deserved rare clean sheet appeared to be in our grasp but I was finally beaten by the softest of goals from a low freekick. I was flat-footed but I had made a mess of it when the ball slipped just beneath my hands to cut the deficit to 2-1. That set up a tense and nervous finale. We were defending desperately but the prospect of getting all 3 points emboldened us and delight was all around when the referee blew for fulltime.
We have now lost only once in 4 games. The win also snapped an unwanted winless streak that had been dragging from last season. We must not let this victory be a flash in the pan occurrence though and try to maintain this decent form.
Akim