Date: 15th Feb 2009
Venue: Tanglin Sec Sch
Jersey: Red
Starting Line-Up:
Junbing (GK), Huang Weijie (LB), Kenny (CB), Suichao (CB), Kaiseng (RB), Hweequan (DM) [Kelvin], Jackie (LM), Rujia (CM), Alvin (CM), Sybian (RM) [Mervin], Jeremy (ST)
Subtitutes:
Kelvin, Mervin
Scoring Summary:
Jeremy [Jackie], Jeremy [Jackie], Jeremy [Kelvin], Junbing, Jackie
Jeremy Grabs His 1st Hat-Trick for the Season
Tanglin Sec Sch brings back sad memories where we lost a comrade a few months ago due to injury. Today, Songbo FC revisits the same ground again in the searing late morning sun as the match is set to begin at 11:00PM. Sensing that the opponents were a technically gifted team, Songbo FC braces themselves up for a tough and tiring match.
The opening few minutes confirmed what Songbo FC had predicted; accurate passing, good ball distribution and quick movement by the opponents forced our team on the backfoot for much of the opening period. In the distant past, this might have been a fatal issue to handle. However, Songbo FC, on the back of a 3 win streak, did not come 98 matches far just to watch our opponents play. With the opponents pushing their backline forward, an eagle-eyed Jackie found Jeremy with plenty of space in front. A precise through pass combined with a calm finish gave Jeremy his 1st of his hat-trick of goals to put Songbo FC ahead.
Unshaken by the early deficit, the opponents started to work their way through our defence. Much of the attacks started from the middle, as a clearly fatigued Hweequan was making mistake after mistake, incurring the wrath from the Captain and the rest of the team. Luckily, none of his mistakes were fatal as the opponents failed to capitalize on his mistakes. One breakthrough almost succeeded as an incoming ball was misplayed and it left the opponent's striker running through on a counterattack. With many players caught on the backfoot, it took Alvin quick thinking and backtracking all the way from midfield back to his own penalty box to diffuse the danger. The fragile lead still hanged on.
Near the end of the 1st half, Songbo FC got the important 2nd goal. Pushing their defence so forward that they landed up in our own half, a high through ball by Jackie gave Jeremy all the space he wanted in between the defenders and the GK. A well executed chip by Jeremy netted him his 2nd goal as well as to give more breathing space for Songbo FC. The opponents could only appeal weakly for offside to be given.
The whistle sounded for half-time. We were leading 2-0 but were physically drained due to the pressure that we had to withstand. Captain's half-time talk was clear; we have to soak up the pressure like a sponge, look for an opportunity and release all our tension into a goal. He then made changes to bring Kelvin in for an under-performing Hweequan and Mervin to replace Sybian who had personal matters to attend to.
By the time the play started for the 2nd half, it was mid-noon and temperatures were soaring. Songbo FC had to look for a 3rd goal quick to relieve much of the unwanted pressure that they had withstood thus far. They did not have to wait long. An inspiring throw-in from Huang Weijie saw Kelvin racing through and provided him the chance to cross the ball to Jeremy. Missing out on a hat-trick for so many of the matches, Jeremy made no mistake to bring the ball down in the box and guided the ball home for his 1st hat-trick of this season.
3 goals up but Songbo FC was not exactly cruising. The opponents piled up the pressure as they sensed that opportunities might be abound when Alvin took over Junbing in between the posts. However, Alvin was not as bad a goalkeeper as they thought and Songbo FC certainly had the brains to switch to a more defensive mode. Even then, there were scares now and then but weak finishing by the opponents did not help them at all.
Against the run of play, Songbo FC were then 4-0 up. A mistaken drop kick gave the ball straight to Junbing who wasted no time to head the ball towards an empty net. The disheartened keeper could only watch the ball go past him and into his net. Another goal for Junbing and what a way to reward his teammates for giving him the opportunity to play an outfield position.
Songbo FC then made it 5-0 as Jackie hit a swerving corner kick into the goal. The keeper, trying to punch the ball out of his goal, could only help it in instead. With the scoreline so wide apart already, the opponents still did not give in. We were subjected to much pressure towards the end of the game as the opponent continued to push forward. Alvin did not help matters much when he misguided a throw followed by a drop kick straight to the opponents who, once again, have been let down by their finishing.
End of the day, Songbo FC played an average match against a technically superior team. We did not deserve the scoreline but the discipline to our system along with lethal finishing contributed to our 5th win in 6 games.
Man of the Match: Jackie is a strong contender with 2 assists and a goal. However, Jeremy steals the award with his hat-trick and finishing that gave him his "goal machine" nickname.
Moan of the Match: Hweequan only played in the 1st half. However, it was a half riddled with mistakes. Almost every touch he took gave the ball away to the opponents. It was a performance that he would want to forget.
Moment of the Match: Near the end of the game, with everyone drained of energy, we could only wonder what drove Kaiseng to sprint 50m down the right flank as he bellowed Jeremy's name in desperation for the ball. The latter, however, did not notice his presence.
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