Match 143 - Win (Testimonial for new Jersy)

Songbo FC 5:2 Opponents

Date: 29th Aug 2010

Venue: Dunearn Sec School
Jersey: Red - Kappa

Starting Line-Up

Kelvin(GK), Junbing(LB), Jackie(CB), Alvin Toh(CB), Mervin(RB), H.Weijie(LM), Swee Chao(DM), Hweequan(RM), Kaiseng(CM), Binghong(AM), Kenny(CF)

Subtitutes
Jiaxiang, T.Weijie

An inauguration match for our new manager is in place before his first official takeover. Coincidentally, today also serves as our testimonial match for our new jersy, Red Kappa. A lot of history has already been made with the old red. It has earned its much needed rest and will now pass on the ‘duty’.

The opponent today is one which we have played against quite a few times. If I’m correct, we have yet to concede a lost to them. Although this match is not an official one, there’s pressure to maintain the ‘undefeated’ streak against them. As we line up against one another, we noticed that there isn’t much changes for the opponent, much less their tactical formation. However, the same could not be said for us.

A testimonial match will often bring about a new formation change and tryout of new position. Attackers during the normal lineup are placed in the backline and defenders in the midfield or attack. The benefit of making such a move is giving the both the attacks and defend the feeling of being in each others’ shoes.

Playing in unfamiliar position often takes quite awhile for each of the players to adapt to. If the opponent takes advantage of this, the result could be devastating. Since the opponents are made up of a group of senior players, the accumulation of a vast knowledge about soccer is definitely present in them. It doesn’t take them long before they realized that we are all uncomfortable in our positions and scoring an early goal isn’t hard. A long ball from the right is not being dealt with cleanly, as such, it frees up the opponent attackers to make a move towards the goal with almost no obstruction at all. A delicate chip from the attacker beats our makeshift GK, Kelvin, and breaks the deadlock in just a few minutes into the game. 0-1!! For this first time in the last few matches, Songbo is on the backfoot.

An early goal serves as a good wake up call. One can be sure that if there’s no response from this, Songbo will be in for a very long tough day. Though Songbo’s combine experience is far less than the opponent but what they truly strive is their team work, discipline and hard work. Having settled down and adjusted well to their individual positions, the look for the equalizer is well underway. A quick release from Jackie saw Kenny out running the opponent defense. With just the GK to beat, he cool slots the ball into the bottom right hand corner. 1-1. Songbo equalized !!

Not being contemplated with evening out the score line. Songbo push further in seeking out the lead. A loose ball from corner falls to Hweequan and he lets fly a ground ball which happens to roll and find its way into the bottom corner. 2-1. Songbo leads !!

The tide has turned and it’s the opponents who are on the back foot. They can no longer stay on the defensive with the score line now against them. As they upped their attack and push their man forward, they created more gaps in their back line. A through ball from the right saw Commando Tan racing down the flank. With a defender and Kaiseng on the far left, he cuts in from the right and hits a curling shot with his left foot. The ball curls in nicely and beats the fully out stretched goalkeeper. A goal that’ll make Paul Scholes proud too. 3-1. Songbo extends the lead !!

During team talk, Alvin decided to tweak the formation again. Everyone was reverted back into their original position. This was a test to see how much of a difference the team would do under a ‘normal’ situation.

With a new formation, though the usual one, in placed. Time is still needed for players to fine tune themselves. It is within this time frame that the team looks vulnerable. An in-swinging cross from the left are met with a header from the opponent. Though the contact was weak, it was able to direct the ball through the legs our yet-another-makeshift-GK, Kenny. 3-2. Songbo’s lead is cut!

Sensing that an equalizer is possible, the opponents send in more and more waves of crosses in hopes of putting the ball into the back of the net. But much to their dismay, the ‘original’ defense is up to the task to repel all the attacks. Frustrated with how Songbo’s defense, the opponents resolved to physically running them down. Fouls are committed frequently in hopes of wearing down the morale of Songbo. This however, could just be a blessing in disguise for Songbo. A long hopeful ball was whipped in by Jackie, at close to the halfway line, from a free kick. Confusion at the opponent defense allowed the ball to bounce and find its back across the goal line. 4-2. Songbo restores the 2 goal lead.

That goal was the morale booster for Songobo and a “de-moralizer” for the opponents. Seeking for a consolation goal, the opponents continue to push on. With more than half their team in the Songbo’s half, one can see that they are clearly forgoing any defensive play. One has to pay the price for not having a good defense in place. Goal kick taken by Kenny was head on by Junbing and turns into a through ball for Jiaxiang. He rounds the opponent GK and slots the ball into the empty net. 5-2. Songbo finishes off in style.

With a 3 goal deficit, the opponent has no way of coming back. The match ended with a good, sweet and deserving victory for Songbo. 5-2 !! Kudos for Alvin to try out the new formation.

Summary by,
Bullocks13 (paid with Gatorade by Captain Sparrow)