Date: 17th Jan 2010
Venue: Hua Yi Sec Sch
Jersey: Black
Starting Line-Up
Junbing(GK), H.Weijie(LB), Kenny(CB), Swee Chao(CB), Kaiseng(RB), Sybian(LM), Hweequan(DM), Alvin Cai(CM), Yanshou(AM), Mervin(RM), Jeremy(ST)
Subtitutes:
Rujia, Kelvin
Scores:
HT: 0-4
FT: 1-5
The first match of the season has never been the favourite time for Songbo FC as we are renowned for being the perennial slow starters. Coupled with the fact that our last season ended earlier with more than a few weeks to spare, it certainly doesn’t bode well for this match.
Opponents for the day: a hungry and noisy team of Malays which seem certain to slaughter the holiday-mood Songbo for breakfast. The availability of the full squad did little to tilt the favour as most of the players were still re-living the fun they had during X’mas or New Year. To make matters worse, the majority of the team arrived later than the stipulated time of 8:30am.
The match started tentatively but the opponents were quick to stamp their authority on the match as they controlled the engine room with ease. It didn’t take long for them to convert their domination into goals as a foul on the edge of the penalty area allowed them to take a direct free kick. A seemingly weak kick floated over the wall and Papa Soh seemingly got the angle covered. The ball bobbled through his gloves and over the line as the blunder left the reigning Player of the Year red-faced and opponents gushing at their good luck.
Songbo’s defence appeared hesitant while the midfielders seemed to be off the mark. The attackers did not have the guile or support to trouble the opponent’s seemingly weak defence as well. The action was mostly in the last third of Songbo’s defending area and the lead was soon doubled and tripled in quick succession.
Poor reading and anticipation in the defence allowed through balls to be played in with ease as the opponents took advantage of the failed office trap and raced to a three-nil lead within the first half hour with two simple goals. Songbo was creeping into the game each time and the opponents responded with the two goals to kill off hopes of any comeback. Their goalkeeper and fancy defenders looked to be the weakest link but Songbo tried to test their defence with corners and hassling but to no avail.
The opponents scored the fourth goal just before half time and the match seemed to be over when Songbo hasn’t seem to have even started! The half time talk was a challenge for Sparrow. Coincidentally, he was just thinking what Steve Bruce might have said to his charges when they were 4-0 down to Chelsea at halftime in an EPL match the night before. Gameplan was simple: Salvage some pride as if this match is going to shape our fortune for this coming season.
Songbo started the second half with more passion and purpose after the halftime lashing. A hopeful long ball from Papa Soh early and El-Nino managed to bundle the ball over the line as a result of hesitant defending from the opponents. Songbo was beginning to trouble the opponents with their direct brand of football as chances trickled in and weaknesses exposed in the opoonent’s backline. It even appeared at one point as if Songbo was possibly able to get something out of the game. In the end, the opponent’s skills proved too much to handle as they unleashed their deadly left winger and put paid to any hopes of a comeback with a clinical take-down and half volley into the top corner of the goal.
The match ended 5-1 as Songbo was able to leave the field with heads slightly high, given their spirited second half performance. However, if this match was to shape the things for this upcoming season, it seem like Songbo is in for an uphill task to improve or even maintain previous seasons’ performances if they continue to play at this level.
Captain Sparrow
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