Starting line-up: Tiger Yan(GK), Seng(RB), Huang(LB), Chao and Kenny (CBs), Sybian(RM), Jack-in-a-box(LM), Quan(DM), Captain Sparrow(CM), Lam(AM), Papa Soh(SC)
Super-sub: Utility man Kel
Sunday morning. Weather clear. Feeling apprehensive.
Songbo made a return to the Westwood Sec pitch, where they recently failed to secure a victory and had to settle for a draw after leading by 2 goals. It was this previous experience that led Captain Sparrow to ask Kelvin whether it was the same opponent again. Checks later revealed that it wasn't but it has to be said that it did not turn out to be desirable too, as we were made to play against Sporting, a team which we have defeated and will carry on doing so with one hand tied behind our back. Everyone was feeling hyped up by now, though bored in facing the same old rotting opponents like how a prisoner feels like when he's handed his daily meals of plain porridge.
All this complacency nearly led us to our downfall...if not for some lucky finishing from Looney, on a 33% conversion rate on his freekicks.
The match started slightly after 9 am and both teams were eager to gain an upper-hand. The first goal came during the journalist's urgent visit to the lavatory. Though i did not witness what happened, it transpired to me that Captain Sparrow headed in powerfully to start the goal rush. Certainly a taste of things to come.
Songbo FC has always survived and won matches based on stout defending and effective set-pieces, and the second goal was a testament to the latter. An inswinging corner from Looney saw Captain Sparrow again rising above the minions to nod the ball into the back of the net. 2-0 up, egos were starting to get inflated.
Credit has to be given to the opposition as they did not surrender even after being 2 goals down. Their midfield started to look more imposing and threatening, with their No. 57 bulldozing his way across the park with his technique and aggression, No 3 (aka Alern) making runs and passes to their No 7, who was nicking it around our defenders. Besides their tenacity, they had luck and the referee's bad decision to thank when their first goal came. A cross into the penalty area was not cleared far enough, and although our defenders had moved up to form a offside trap, the referee decided otherwise and allowed a goal when their clearly offside "tao-gai" player tapped the ball past a stunned and astonished Tiger Yan. 2-1.
The game progressed with end to end action and Songbo stemmed Sporting's progress with brave defending, notably Huang who has shown improvement over the games. Credit, of course, has to be given to the other 3. A freekick was earned outside the edge of the penalty box when Papa Soh was upended by one of Sporting's defenders' clumsy challenge. Looney, who previously had ballooned one freekick and show wide another, stepped up confidently to claim a stake. His competitor, Sybian. The choice was obvious, the desirable result proved so. Looney dispatched the deadball over the wall and straight at the GK. However, it has to be said the goal came as a result of the GK's inability to claim a high ball than Looney's accuracy. This view was reinforced by Looney after the match that he was indeed lucky. Nevertheless, a goal is a goal. Shortly after, referedd blew for the break.
After a smoke-filled break, the two teams returned to the field to begin the second half. Songbo made changes to their line-up bringing Kelvin in as RB and Seng moving over to the other side, sacrificing Huang in the process. Half-time team talk was to start a passing game, with subsequent changes to put Papa Soh back between the posts and Tiger Yan out to roam the park for his hunting. This was not to be as Sporting, clearly taken drugs during the break, came into the game snapping at our heels. Their perseverance finally paid off when a hopeful punt into the 6-yard box by their winger saw Tiger Yan failing to claim a simple ball under no pressure after coming out between the posts. It has to be the awkward bounce the ball took on the bumpy ground, as we all hate to say it was down to a lack of concentration. 3-2.
Songbo, tenacity our forte, decided to push on with our attack and it nearly paid dividends if not for Looney's rueful miss. A well-placed cross deep into the penalty area by Kelvin was well-controlled by Looney initially, as his first touch took the ball past a marking defender. He was let down by his own finishing as he opt for power instead of accuracy and saw the ball screaming wide of the post.
As the game progressed and the Sun rose, Alvin seemed to be the only hardworking midfield player, constantly hustling the opponent. Quan was feeling the results of a booze-filled session the night before and Captain Sparrow was looking like a shadow of his first-half performance. The consistent pressure from Alvin saw the opponent allowing a loose ball to reach Looney on the left side, and this time after a good control, he unleashed a dipping shot that left no chance to the GK. Clearly the match winner! Has to be lucky again...but then again who cares. 4-2.
Captain finally regained his composure and remembered that he had promised to bring Tiger Yan out and up. The change was finally made, to Tiger's pleasure, which was however short-lived. The action now concentrated on Songbo's side, with Sporting laying siege to our fortress. The fortress did not collapse during open play but it was during a corner that we narrowed our lead to 1 goal. The ball was put into the 6-yard box which Papa Soh claimed to be his ball. It must be due to the surface of the gloves that caused what happened next, as Soh was never prone to such errors. To everyone's horror, he dropped the ball and Opposition No 3 was the quickest to react to toe-poke the ball into goal, injuring Quan in the process with an elbow. It hurts, and judging by the whines Quan made, it should still be hurting now as this report hits the press. An appeal was made by Quan but the referee waved it off as flippant. 4-3.
The game finally ended as the kick off was made by Kelvin and Looney. A loud noise was heard from Tiger as he lamented his lack of chance to make up for his mistake, partially directed at Captain who forgot to bring him out.
In any case, a victory is sweet and sacrifices have to be made for the team at times. It is just Tiger's belligerent and mentality to win that caused him to explode, understandable by all of us. Take heart Tiger, no one blames you for that. Like how Captain sums it up, all players are not exonerated from mistakes, so why blame others? IT is this mentality that flows in our team that bonds us together.
Well done bros!
