Vindication was certainly the word as a pair of cheap China-made boots was finally put to deadly effectiveness and did what the flashy Mizuno boots couldn’t. The downhill Xiao Long Bau man, heavily ridiculed for his indifferent performances since his stint in Shanghai, showed what he could do upon returning to home shore, as he grabbed MS’ first hat-trick of the season.
It took some time for us to settle down on the pitch as we were adjusting our feet to the natural pitch, after pampering ourselves on the well manicured astroturf in past matches. Passes went astray and most ended up anywhere except where we wanted the ball to be. And it took a lucky break to settle into our rhythm.
Teck Chye weaved his way but a certain shot turned out to be a wayward kick. KH pounced on the uncertain and indecisive Putih Campur (though they are better known as Nitro) defence to shoot the loose ball past the keeper, who remained deeply rooted on his ground throughout. 1-0 and that settled some nervy starts.
Putih Campur pushed the line a bit too far up and they paid for it dearly. A high ball allowed Gan to sneak in from the blind. Referee ignored the incessant offside calls by Putih Campur and Gan advanced into the box before rounding the keeper and shooting into the open goal.
PC hardly threatened MS goal in the 1st half and 2-0 stood at half-time.
The 2nd half was somewhat a grab-and-smash affair by both sides. Teck Chye wasted an opportunity when he shot sky-high after charging well ahead of the pack to face only the keeper. On the other hand, Seah courageously came off his line to block a certain goal attempt by PC.
The re-introduction of KH ignited the match. He seemed to make the left flank his turf as he time and again launched his assaults on that side of the pitch. First he broke free on the left to receive a pass but his final cross intending for Mike at the far end was a letdown. He then beat a defender and advanced well down the left before crossing in a measured beauty for Mike at the far post. But it was not meant to me, Mike could only conjure up the Miss of the Season with the goal at his mercy and the keeper hopelessly out of position. A through pass by See Chiang set KH galloping away on the left. He beat the advancing keeper to the ball and slotted the ball into the open goal from a tight angle. 3-0.
Just when it looked like a stroll in the park. PC hit back with a sucker punch. A quick breakaway exposed our complacent backline. Their speedy forward had the entire right fairway to his own before cutting left into the box, leaving Weng Kwan stranded. He unleashed a fierce left-footer that Seah could do nothing about it. Deficit was narrowed 3-1.
KH extended MS’ lead with his hat-trick goal. Mike, in the 6-yards box, trapped the cross in from the left. KH, definitely on the loose and exhibiting all his predatory instincts garnered from hunting the xiao long bau in Shanghai, let fly a half volley that could have bulged the net. 4-1 now and he must have been inspired by Torres!
PC would not lie low though. Where they could not get into the box, they tried from distance. A direct free-kick way outside the box caught Seah napping as he watched the ball sailed past him.
Report contributed by KH
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