Match 155 - Lost

Songbo FC 2:3 Opponents

Date: 08th May 2011
Venue: Fuhua SS.
Jersey: Kappa Red

Starting Line-Up >> 5-3-2
Yanshou(GK), Kelvin(LB), Suichao(CB), Binghong(CB), Kaiseng (RB), Sybian(LM), T.Weijie(DM), Rujia(CM), Mervin(RM), Junbing(CF), Kenny(CF)

Subtitutes:
Jiaxiang

Scores:
HT: 2-0
FT: 2-3

SBFC headed into this match on an unprecedented run of bad results in their history, not knowing that they would add another bad result to the sequence.

Everything looked optimistic at the start, bright sunny weather, a relatively good pitch and a referee who looked keen to stamp his authority in the match. (Note: an authoritative referee, in my opinion, is only to SBFC's advantage. Our opponents tend to play dirty, not us. So I don't know why we were affected by his authoritative style.)

SBFC started off well with 2 well taken goals in the first half. A clearance by fullback Seng saw the ball being lifted to Kenny in the opposite half. An accelerating run by Kenny saw him beat his marker, as he brought the ball to the right before slamming the ball with precise accuracy into the goal. 1-0

The second goal came quickly after. A clearance in the opponent's half was done haphazardly, and saw the ball finding Kenny in some miraculous way. Without any further invitation, Kenny chose to place the ball to the GK's left, giving SBFC a comfortable 2-0 lead over their youthful opponents.

Who would have even expected what was going to happen? With a comfortable 2-goal lead, one would see the leading team consolidating their advantage, and the opposition throwing caution to the wind to equalise, which most of the time, will see more goals being knocked into a undefended goal. These goals did came, but at the wrong end.

The goal that sparked the opposition's revival came fast and furious. The ball was played into SB's half without much threat at all, as the number of attackers matched the number of defenders. However, laid-back defending saw the opposing LM holding the ball for too long a time, while our defenders were contented to sit back and defend. With time on his hand, the LM picked his spot and curled a wicked shot into SB's goal, with PapaSoh beaten as his view of the shot was blocked, as claimed. 2-1

Ball to hand, hand to ball. According to the referee, there is no longer a difference between the two. And how it came to haunt us. While defending an attack, CapiTan was penalised for a handball in the penalty area as he jumped up with no intent to block the ball with his arm. Rules are rules. A penalty was given and PapaSoh was unlucky not to block the shot having gone the right direction. 2-2 (Note: a check on FIFA's rule book (updated 2011) http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/81/42/36/lawsofthegame_2010_11_e.pdf has CONFIRMED that a handball is only called if a player, other than the GK, deliberately handles the ball. So that self-centred referee was WRONG. I hate it when someone is wrong but insists that he is right. Just like MIW. Oops)

Once there's a crack, attack it. And how the opposition did. Sensing that our defence was starting to show vulnerability, the opposition carried on laying siege to SBFC. With due credit, SBFC did not relent and also tried to attack back, just that the opposition proved to be more decisive in their finishing. A potshot from the opponent striker had SBFC's custodian beaten for the third time that day. 2-3. Details are blurry as the reporter was already suffering from the heat of the midday sun. Was that an excuse that was playing in the minds of the SBFC players too? Or was the penalty call that allowed for the equaliser unwarranted? Or that many of the SBFC players stayed up to watch the results of GE 2011 and suffered from lack of rest.

Be it whatever. As a classic number from the late Michael Jackson goes, "Blame it on the sunshine, blame it on the moonlight, blame it on the good times. Boogie."

Summary by,
Kelvin