MATCH DAY - 04062000

SUNDAY FC 3 - OPPONENTS 1

PLAYERS : 1 - Paul ; 3 - Jeremy ; 4 - Ryan ; 6 - Fairoz ; 7 - Sirong ; 9 - Hong Pin ; 10 - Choung ; 13 - Bernard ; 14 - Chuwen ; 17 - Almeric ; 20 - Wesley 

GOAL SCORERS : Paul ; Fairoz ; Choung

MATCH REPORT by Sirong

Our team has been greatly depleted due to injuries.  With our captain, Sze Hua, out with torn knee ligaments from last game; Ming Sheng out with torn ankle ligaments and Daniel Kway with an injured butt.  Despite this, we still could assemble squad to emerge 3 - 1 winners today.  We started with Hongpin in goal and Paul in attack.

We attacked from the start, with Choung missing 2 opportunities within minutes.  Having only the goalkeeper to beat in both occasions, he skied the ball.  Not before long, Paul justified his selection by putting us ahead with a well taken shot from the left.  Good link up play from the left presented him with an opportunity which he grabbed.  This was the first goal he scored in open play and he duly celebrated with a somersault.

Our opponents began to find their rhythm and their skilful number 20 was always threatening our goal.  Hongpin made several saves that kept us on top.  Some were textbook saves while others were spectacular.  We too had many attempts at their goal and Choung again failed to convert.  On the stroke of halftime, we were 2 - 0 ahead.  A well-worked corner between Wesley and myself (Sirong) saw the ball floating to the far post and Fairoz rose above everyone to head the ball into goal, finally opening his accounts.

In the second half, Paul and Hongpin swapped positions, although Paul would gladly surrender his number 1 jersey to Hongpin after his remarkable performance in goal.  Our opponents began to attack with more conviction.  Again it was their number 20 who wrecked havoc in our defence.  In a move that saw him dribble past our whole defence and with Paul beaten as well, Bernard came charging him but conceded an own goal instead.  It unlucky on his part, even though the goal was open.

We went forward looking to get back our 2 goal cushion.  Our players started to pour forward.  Ryan had an audacious shot from near the halfway line miraculously saved.  As the ball was headed for the top corner, we were preparing to celebrated when the goalkeeper acrobatically punched the ball away.  Choung too had an effort saved.

Finally, the stage was set for Choung to break his scoring duck, that too with a spectacular goal.  A long throw from Hongpin into the box found Choung with his back facing goal.  He pushed the ball to his left, took another touch to control, swiveled and let fly a shot that flew into goal.

In the closing part of the match, Hongpin made a superb goal line clearance with Paul well beaten to help preserve our 2 goal lead.

Victory surely taste sweet.  Hopefully we can start a run from here.