Junbing(GK), H.Weijie(LB), Binghong(CB), Kenny(CB), Kaiseng(RB), Jackie(LM), Hweequan(DM), Kelvin(DM), Mervin(RM), Rujia(AM), Alvin Toh(CF)
Scorers (Assists):
Kenny ()
Mervin ()
Rujia (Mervin)
Songbo FC Seals 3-3 Draw in a Game of 2 Halves
Playing at a venue like Alexandra Hospital seemed like a trip back to Songbo FC's younger days where a pitch had no accompanying sources of water, no visible pitch lines drawn and only 1 end of the field was fenced. However, the quality of the natural pitch itself was one of the better ones encountered.
The opponents were familiar ones too; our head-to-head results says it all: a win and a loss. We could beat this team on our best days but otherwise, we would have a tough time. Our recent form suggests anything but top form.
The captain started with the same players benched last match, placing faith in a defensive line-up of Binghong and Kenny to hold the fort. The rest of the line-up were players in their familiar slots. With that, they were sent out to face a team they knew pretty well.
The 1st half began ominously enough; after an attack by the opponents came to nothing, Kenny made a run upfield which was spotted by Junbing. An accurate drop kick towards, a mis-control by the playing tracking Kenny and a good finish with a sliding shot gave Songbo FC an early lead in the match. It could have been 2-0 if Berbatoh took his chance when Rujia managed to win the ball back in the box after a tussle with the GK and crossed the ball for Berbatoh to convert into the empty net. Berbatoh, being Berbatoh, tried to finish with a diving header. Unfortunately for him and the team, he mistimed it completely and the ball bounced harmlessly out for a throw in.
The story for Songbo FC in the 1st half was pretty much summed up above and the opponents begun to turn the tide. A goal was conceded when a harmless looking ball was struck towards Junbing and and he stooped to collect the ball, the ball somehow bounced off his gloves and into the net. The opponent took advantage of their good fortune and begun to pepper Junbing with shots everywhere. The pitch was small and the defense had to been constantly reminded to push up instead of sitting too deep. However, that instruction took time to settle into the players and the opponents had the time to exploit the space left by the players to find the target. Junbing rose up to the occasion by performing saves that Pepe Reina would have been proud of. That resolve was broken when their "77" striker made a incisive run between Binghong and Kenny to receive the ball in the area where he was 1-on-1 with Junbing. With a flick off his foot, the ball went into the right corner of the net and Songbo was down 1-2.
It could have been 1-3 if not for some wasteful finishing by the opponents; a harmless looking situation between Binghong and Junbing gave the ball away when they could not play their way to safety but the striker could not convert the chance despite being clean through and Songbo was given a huge let-off; 1-3 at half time would have been difficult. However, 1-2 was the score Songbo brought into the break.
The 2nd half was a different story for Songbo FC. Somehow, the team managed to find enough fuel in the tank to press the opponents hard and kept relentless pressure on them. The pressure and hard work paid off after Berbatoh found a chance to strike a swerving shot at goal on the left. The ball seemed to be headed into the top corner but the keeper managed to get a hand to it to tip it onto the crossbar to deny Berbatoh. The rebound, however, fell to an area where Mervin was on hand to toe-poke the ball past the keeper despite his big frame covering all angles and into the net. 2-2 and Songbo FC was having the momentum to win this...
...or so they thought. With the opponents' technique and strength, they could shoot from almost anywhere in the small pitch and this was demonstrated when their midfielder had space in the middle of the park to drive a ball towards goal. Junbing, who was off his line to make up for the space between him and the defenders, saw the ball coming but could not get back in time to prevent the ball from cruising into the net. 2-3 and Songbo FC had to claw their way back again.
It could have been easier if Songbo FC have taken their chances earlier. A pass to the unguarded Hweequan at the edge off the area begged a better finish than the skying shot that ensued and after some rare feet to feet passing by Songbo FC which left Rujia through, he decided to pass the ball to the GK instead of planting it at the back of the net.
The fast pace of the game also saw casualties such as Hweequan, and later, Sweechao, leaving the pitch due to cramps and knocks with the bench fully utilised for rotating subs. Indeed, it might have been too much rotation when Rujia tried to play with a 5-4-1 formation near the end when Berbatoh had to leave the pitch after he was caught in the chest.
As the captain, he made it up, however, when he rose highest to head the ball into the left corner of the net after a cross from Mervin was delivered from the right. Earlier, he was punched by the keeper in the head after challenging for a header which left him in a dazed state not seen since the scenes at Kelvin's wedding. 3-3 and that was how the game ended, and perhaps, fairly.
The game could have been out of reach by the 1st half had it been not for Junbing's tremendous saves and wasteful finishing by the opponents. However, Songbo FC could have nicked it in the 2nd half as well if they had took all their chances.
In the end, while you have to look 24 matches back for their last draw, a 2 game unbeaten "streak" sets up a good ground for those 6 to 8 undefeated strings Songbo FC were once known for. 3 different goalscorers, $5 per head pitch, 90 mins of pulsating action, 1 experience.
Report by,
Mervin
