Match #28 (05 July 08): 4-1 win over young Stallions

report contributed by leng

The oldies from MS started arriving from 2:35pm. We are expecting 15 players and KH is also back in the team after missing last week's game. To the superstitious members, it spelt trouble as the combinations of more players and the presence of KH usually resulted in a loss. The overcast sky is also a worry and some even thought that the game might be in danger of being called off...a good omen to protect our recent winning streak? It was not to be, the rain came and went and the game was on.

Our opponents, an all Indian team, looks young and fit and full of purpose. They came early and warmed up together. While warming up, Leng overheard an opponent player saying they had not won in 3 games. MS would make it 4 in a row for them, unfortunately. The game started and MS controlled the game with the usual passing and probing. Within the first few minutes, MS created a chance with a low cross coming from the left. Guan managed to control the ball and set himself up to place the ball to the far pole. Unfortunately, his shot went just wide. In our next attack, a high cross came in, under no pressure the goalkeeper chose to punch the ball away. At this juncture, KH shouted some instruction to Gan in Mandarin which not many people understood. Our first goal came soon. A long clearance was knocked onto Leng. Leng saw the run of Wah from the right and knock down the ball into his stride. Wah did not disappoint. He controlled the ball well and send in a low cross into the danger area, despite some very tight marking from the defender. MS have two players, st and Chiang, going for the kill. Chiang won the toss for the chance to score. He did with so with much gusto, whacking the ball with such power that our statistician measured it at 110 km/h speed when the ball hit the back of the net. 1-0 to MS.

At the quarter mark, MS make 6 quick substitutions. This may have created some discontinuity. The opponent managed to put in some nice passes and a shot from the right has Seah beaten but the crossbar saved us. In another instance, Chye playing the stopper role, uncharacteristically gave the ball away to the opponent in the middle of the park. The speedy forward then proceeded on goal, beat our last man and was one-on-one against Seah. Seah who has not been tested much, rushed off his line, spread himself and stop a certain goal from the resulting shot. A very good save from Seah. Our second goal was equally well created. Our passing and speed caught the opponent again. This time, st faked a cross before releasing a pass to Mike wide on the left. Mike took off down the flank and send in another wonderful cross into the danger area. This time it was Gan who was first to the ball and had the simple job to tap into an open goal. 2-0 to MS at half time.

The second half started with the Stallions putting in some decent players, noticeably their No. 18 who has some nice touches and speed. He would go on to combine well with the speedy No. 10 to create some trouble. The Stallions controlled the first 10 minutes or so in the second half. However, against the run of play, MS scored another goal out of nowhere. MS won a throw in in the opponent half. The ball was thrown to Gan. Gan chested the ball and changed the direction, turned quickly and unleashed an unstoppable shot over the goalkeeper dipping into the far post. Gan was so satisfied with the goal that he celebrated with a pump fist and a shout. 3-0 to MS. MS was trying to keep a clean sheet but the Stallions managed to score. A shot came in and Seah punched it out for a corner. The match ball was punched out of the field. The only replacement ball, the opponent's ball that was way too soft, was used as the replacement. Off the corner, the opponent managed to head into goal unchallenged, with the first use of the replacement ball. MS was to score again with the last touch of the ball. Off one corner, the ball somehow floated to Chiang. Chiang unleashed another first time shot. Leng was in the way blocking the view of the goalkeeper but jumped up to let the ball pass under his legs. The ball sailed into the back of the net for our 4th and final goal. This was also the last kick of the game as the referee blew for the final whistle. Final score 4-1 to MS.

Now, our hypothesis has to be tested again. We had more than 15 players and we had KH, yet we won quite comfortably against a young team. I was thinking the whole night and maybe I have a new hypothesis......Usually, KH would come in very early to warm up. But for this game, he came late and did not conduct his usual bare chested rounds. So maybe this is the cure to the curse....only time will tell. Till then, the Oldies but Goodies won the day.