Akim (GK)
Alim - Shahril - Azmi - Farid
Shafi - Rahman - Azman - Fairuz
Helmi
Nas
Subs:
Firdaus Masdar
Huang
Yongsheng
Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results
Beatty Sec 5pm - Kambing FC's defence was put to a stern test by Luchaz Locos (LL), the current league leaders and the only unbeaten team in Division 2. It was with great credit that despite our 4th loss of the season, the goals only came via a deflection and by our own player. I covered in goal again while Shahril ignored doctor's orders to start in defence alongside Azmi, his regular partner. This meant that Alim was shifted at right back. Helmi and Fairuz were also welcome returns to the line-up.
LL got us on the back foot with a controlled and patient passing style of play to dominate the first half as we opted to play on the counter-attack. They struck the crossbar thrice, including one shot which I tipped onto it, and they were also limited to a couple of long-range efforts in that period. Our disciplined defensive performance as a team was earning a lot of plaudits, however, even after Shahril's premature withdrawal following a committed challenge to prevent a shot, and Alim admirably stood in for him. I could thank the team that I did not have to make a single point-blank save.
If there was one improvement we could have worked on again though, it was for us to win those aerial balls, which the opponents won just about each time to send us back into our half again. Helmi, Fairuz, Nas and Shafi, who was caught offside a few times, all tried to force the issue but LL was determinedly holding on to their end of the bargain too, such that the GK was hardly in action. Nevertheless, we went into the break delighted with a clean sheet but knowing it was not yet over.
Our resistance finally ended mere minutes after the restart. We lost possession on the halfway line again. LL launched a swift and precise counter-attack that got our defence in twists and knots deep in our area. An opponent cut back a low cross from their left flank towards his team-mate, who managed to get his shot in. Unfortunately, the ball ping-ponged against a couple of our players and the ball was deflected away from me into the net.
Our reply was immediately muted and LL continued to sustain pressure. We worked ourselves to finally find a second wind to keep them at bay again. I was again kept relatively quiet in goal apart from taking goalkicks and tipping away a dangerous cross, as our opponents resorted to long-range efforts which skied over the bar. Thus, it was a disappointment when the opponents doubled their lead through the cruelest of goals. The opponents whipped in a cross from their right flank inside our penalty box and Firdaus's attempted clearance could only turn into a brilliant scissors kick that powered the ball past me into the net.
Just before the final whistle, it was Farid's day in the sun. An opponent found himself with space in the penalty box and seemed certain to score. Farid, having been a star performer in the match, launched a stupendous covering tackle just as the opponent was about to pull the trigger. That was just about the best consolation prize for our team, apart from a wonderful team effort, to pass a stern test set by LL. It was yet another game for us to learn our lesson. Now, with an expected break from the league on Labour Day, we would aim to use the time to play a friendly game or two.
Akim
Rest of league results
Beatty Sec 5pm - Kambing FC's defence was put to a stern test by Luchaz Locos (LL), the current league leaders and the only unbeaten team in Division 2. It was with great credit that despite our 4th loss of the season, the goals only came via a deflection and by our own player. I covered in goal again while Shahril ignored doctor's orders to start in defence alongside Azmi, his regular partner. This meant that Alim was shifted at right back. Helmi and Fairuz were also welcome returns to the line-up.
LL got us on the back foot with a controlled and patient passing style of play to dominate the first half as we opted to play on the counter-attack. They struck the crossbar thrice, including one shot which I tipped onto it, and they were also limited to a couple of long-range efforts in that period. Our disciplined defensive performance as a team was earning a lot of plaudits, however, even after Shahril's premature withdrawal following a committed challenge to prevent a shot, and Alim admirably stood in for him. I could thank the team that I did not have to make a single point-blank save.
If there was one improvement we could have worked on again though, it was for us to win those aerial balls, which the opponents won just about each time to send us back into our half again. Helmi, Fairuz, Nas and Shafi, who was caught offside a few times, all tried to force the issue but LL was determinedly holding on to their end of the bargain too, such that the GK was hardly in action. Nevertheless, we went into the break delighted with a clean sheet but knowing it was not yet over.
Our resistance finally ended mere minutes after the restart. We lost possession on the halfway line again. LL launched a swift and precise counter-attack that got our defence in twists and knots deep in our area. An opponent cut back a low cross from their left flank towards his team-mate, who managed to get his shot in. Unfortunately, the ball ping-ponged against a couple of our players and the ball was deflected away from me into the net.
Our reply was immediately muted and LL continued to sustain pressure. We worked ourselves to finally find a second wind to keep them at bay again. I was again kept relatively quiet in goal apart from taking goalkicks and tipping away a dangerous cross, as our opponents resorted to long-range efforts which skied over the bar. Thus, it was a disappointment when the opponents doubled their lead through the cruelest of goals. The opponents whipped in a cross from their right flank inside our penalty box and Firdaus's attempted clearance could only turn into a brilliant scissors kick that powered the ball past me into the net.
Just before the final whistle, it was Farid's day in the sun. An opponent found himself with space in the penalty box and seemed certain to score. Farid, having been a star performer in the match, launched a stupendous covering tackle just as the opponent was about to pull the trigger. That was just about the best consolation prize for our team, apart from a wonderful team effort, to pass a stern test set by LL. It was yet another game for us to learn our lesson. Now, with an expected break from the league on Labour Day, we would aim to use the time to play a friendly game or two.
Akim