Match #16 (12 Apr 08): 3-4 loss to babylon (again)

report contributed by kh.
attendance 17: seah, guan, kwan, ng, wen, leo, chiang, st, mark, wah, mike, chye, leng, gan, hleong, kh, lakesh.

Babylon proved that quality rules over quantity, with only 10 men against the 17-men Marine Sunday and still walked off as deserving winner in a pulsating match. Marine Sunday reciprocated with an overwhelming dosage of never-say-die spirit that could have finished off the game with an equalizer.

Despite having a man short throughout the match, Babylon passed the ball around the pitch that would have Arsene Wenger drooled over it as well. Marine Sunday, whilst chasing the game and closing down space, displayed the doggedness that would have embarrassed the over-rated English players.

Babylon players were definitely more nimble-footed and mobile. Conversely, we always came up 1 step short and committed a few suicidal fouls. The first of many such fouls led to the opening goal when Simon tripped their player 10 metres outside the box. Their playmaker, No 25, curled one sweet left-footer over the 3-men wall and sailed into the net. Even though Seah had 1 hand to the ball, it just packed too much power to be punched away.

A quick breakaway led to their 2nd goal as we came up short in pace to chase after their left winger. Without breaking his strides, he walloped a cracker from outside the box and the ball landed diagonally at the top right hand corner, with Seah rooted. 2 goals down!

Babylon’s overwhelming possession could have further yielded 2 goals but we rode our luck. First, Chung Wen was a step slower to clear the ball in the box and tripped their player instead. Referee pointed to the spot without hesitation but Babylon blew the resultant penalty wide off the left upright. Then, Seah denied another swift breakthrough down the left but Babylon’s follow-up to the loose ball was miraculously denied, not once but twice in quick succession, by Teck Chye on the line.

We pressed on and before the half ended, Teck Chye sneaked in from behind to receive Mike’s floater from the right, and Chye coolly lobbed over the keeper to narrow the deficit 1-2 at half-time.

2nd half resumed in pretty much the same manner with us chasing the game but we surprised them with our equalizing goal. Now, the younger Tang brother did what his elder brother earlier did as he capitalized on the miscommunication between Babylon’s keeper and left fullback to lob the loose ball over the keeper. Now, we were all square.

Babylon appeared nervy now but a couple of defensive lapses allowed them to regain the lead. An attempted back-header to Seah by Chor Guan was intercepted by their lurking left-winger, who then squared the ball into the box. Again, we were 1 step slower to clear the ball. See Chiang hecked the man down instead of reaching the ball. This time round, Babylon coolly converted the penalty. Then another dangerous cross into the box allowed their striker to get in behind Chor Guan for a knock-on. The ball came off the upright but still ended in the net.

Not taking it lying down, we stormed back. Simon was picked out by Lak and the former squared a low ball across the box. See Chiang’s sweeping right-footer shot came off a Babylon’s defender to trickle past the out-of-position keeper. Again the deficit was narrowed and we were inspired.

See Chiang was then 1 step slower to meet Chwee Leng’s teasing cross from the right. Another cross from Simon on the right put their defence in sixes and sevens but Mike somehow slipped at the crucial moment when the ball landed at his feet.

We piled the pressure on the right flank and it almost paid off. They conceded a throw in near the corner flag and Mark’s long throw was back-headed by Mike across the goal. Ng stole in from the blind and powered in a thunder header that was heading towards the top left-hand corner. But it wasn’t to be as their keeper managed to collect the ball. With that, the final whistle went. 3-4 was the final score and accordingly, it was out first loss this season in our all-blue!