Match #16 (28 March 2009): An Action-Filled 3 – 3 Draw!

Marine Sunday and Top Ten (formerly Terrapinn) dished out a pulsating match, exchanging lead throughout the match and eventually producing a heart-stopping 3 – 3 draw at the dying moment of the match.

With one effort cannoning off the upright, Top Ten also brought out 4 top drawer saves from Brandon. Any one of the 4 attempts would have hit the net if anybody else was in goal. At our end, Kian Hwa, certainly rusty and short of pace after a 3-match layoff, screwed up 2 gilt-edged one-on-one chances, Teck Wah had 2 attempts cleared off the line and another hitting the post, See Chiang saw his goal-bound header tipped over the bar by Top Ten’s custodian. With such number of goal-scoring opportunities each side failed to convert, either side could have snatched the match but on the other hand, neither side also deserved to lose.

Despite the far-from-satisfactory passing and movements, we captured the lead. Top Ten's right back, under harassment from Mike, attempted a back pass to his stopper but the weak pass was well read and intercepted by Kian Hwa, who was a step quicker to rob the ball before the stopper could get to it. Seeing his fellow strike partner, Teck Wah, lurking unmarked in the box, Kian Hwa quickly squared a grounder across the box for Teck Wah to do what he knows best - scoring, amid weak offside calls from Top Ten defenders. Despite the dengue-enforced layoff, Kian Hwa seemed energetic enough to again beat the stopper to the ball on the left and had another perfect opportunity to set Teck Wah up at the far post. But much as he was spiritually willing, he failed to deliver the cross and he promptly attributed it to the lack of strength and conditioning in his limbs.

Top Ten then took over the possession and their No 7, a tall and lanky striker with nimble feet, No 37, another tall but powerfully built midfielder who is comfortable to take on players, and their last-minute import, a Chinese left winger full of tricks, began to wreak havoc for us. First, No 7 made full use of his height and helped himself to a thundering header that hit the ground before coming off the right post. Brandon was alert enough to collect the rebound. That was the first of the many close shaves we suffered and the writing was ominously on the wall for their equaliser. We then conceded a free kick outside the box. Top Ten's first attempt hit the wall but their No 37 followed up on the rebound with a bullet that pierced through a sea of bodies towards goal. Just when it was destined to break the net, Brandon miraculously pulled off a one-handed block to divert the ball over the bar despite seeing the ball late. It was a blinding save, to say the least, and his right palm must have felt the full sting of the shot. We were relieved that none of us was in the way of the flight of the ball. Top Ten then peppered at our goal with a couple of powerful shots from distance. It was not surprising that their equalizer eventually came, courtesy of their No 7's quick feet. He showed that he was just as good as Crouch with the ball at his feet by beating our defenders in the box before slotting the ball past Brandon. 1 - 1. No 7 then powered another header from a corner and again, Brandon’s outstretched arm bailed us out again.

The equaliser provided much impetus to Top Ten and their goal No 2 soon came after. In an over zealous effort to recapture the lead, we committed too many bodies, including our stopper See Chiang, in an attack. Our offensive move broke down and they launched a quick counter attack that exposed our frailties at the rear. A quick one-two between their tricky Chinese winger and No 37 caught Hock Leong flat-footed and No 37 went on to beat Brandon with a stiff grounder. Top Ten now seized the initiative. Brandon then pulled off another stupendous save to keep us in the game. Another free kick just outside the box was conceded and again, No 37 proved to be a nightmare for us as he let fly another rocket at goal. Brandon somehow managed to tip the ball onto the bar before it went over for a corner.

A series of tactical changes managed to calm things down for us. Teck Chye, who came in for the depleted Kian Hwa, dropped back into midfield to beef up the control. See Chiang was moved to the left midfield slot to take on their weak spot - the right fullback. Kok Hock retreated to take over See Chiang's stopper role. Those tactical changes paid off as Teck Chye, with his superb control of the ball and tenacity to win 50-50 balls, began to call the shots and dictate play for us. Teck Wah had a left footed effort from the edge of the box cleared on the line. Kian Hwa, who came back into the game, then wasted another couple of good attacking moves. He first responded well to Teck Chye's pass in the box but his weak legs let him down again as his eventual cross into the box was too feeble to reach Teck Wah in the 6-yards box. Then a string of quick passes set him through in the box but his left-footed attempt was executed in haste without any precision. Half-time ended with Top Ten holding a 2 - 1 lead.

The game plan to capitalise on their right fullback paid off in the 2nd half. Simple football yielded our equaliser. Brandon distributed the ball out to Kian Hwa on the right, who then laid it off to Teck Wah in the middle of the park. Top Ten was guilty of allowing Teck Wah too much time and space on the ball as they were retreating with every step Teck Wah advanced. Teck Wah then threaded a ball in between 2 defenders to pick out See Chiang coming in from the left into the box. See Chiang beat the advancing keeper to the ball and laid off a square pass across the box for Kian Hwa. The latter's first attempt at the open goal failed miserably but he was blessed enough to have a 2nd bite of the cherry as he mustered enough strength to blast home the loose ball. 2 - 2 and we upped the tempo to introduce Yong Chua into the game.

The astute pairing of Hock Leong and Kok Hock at the heart of our defence settled down well and, despite a pace slower, they were comfortable in dealing with their attacks. Unfortunately, our midfield dynamo, Teck Chye, had to retire early from the match but this absence was largely compensated by the classy Yong Chua's presence. Though clearly affected by his nearly washed out knee, Yong Chua still proved a handful for Top Ten to deal with and he punished them dearly with our 3rd goal, which could only be delivered by someone with that kind of eagled eye for a goal. From outside the box, Yong Chua appeared harmless with the ball and Top Ten defence looked well covered but the former chipped a delightful ball to land it at the top left hand corner, giving their keeper no chance at all. We regained the lead, 3 - 2! See Chiang really tormented their right fullback. He slipped off the latter's attention easily and got into the 6-yards box to meet a dipping cross from Leo on the right. See Chiang's header packed enough strength to break the net but it was tipped over for a corner by the last minute intervention from their keeper's fingers. Teck Wah then wriggled his way through and beat the keeper but his effort came off the right post. His follow-up effort was blocked by the keeper just when the ball was bound for goal.

The early departure of Yong Chua reversed the territorial superiority to them and they regained to impose themselves again. Brandon proved to be a major obstacle to them and pulled off a save that brought back memories of the legendary Gordon Bank’s save against Pele’s header. No 7 spun ran rings around Chwee Leng before floating a ball into the box, which their Indian winger connected the ball with perfection. By then, Brandon had moved to his left to cover the angle but against all odds, produced a reflex save by diving to his right in time to palm away the certain goal. Their Indian winger buried his head in his hands in disbelief and we shook our heads in relief. Nevertheless, we still looked good for a well-fought win but our fatigue, tactical naivety and lack of concentration in the last five minutes conceded a last minute equaliser to them. We should have just run down the clock and kept possession but with both Yong Chua and Teck Chye out of the game then, the only way to keep the ball to our feet was to glue it to our boots. We committed unnecessary players upfront for corners when we should have known better that they were better in dealing with high balls and we kept gifting possession back to them. One such giveaway proved suicidal. Chung Wen’s clearance was weak and their talisman, No 37 robbed the ball and blasted past Chung Wen with ease. From a tight angle near the byeline, he walloped a fierce shot that Brandon was just glad his face was not in the way. He stood motionless as the ball just flew past him in a flash. Top Ten were naturally ecstatic with their equaliser and we could only kick ourselves for our shortcomings.

The whistle went off timely for us to settle for a 3 – 3 draw!

Man of The Match: Brandon (14 votes)
14 out of 15 votes, you can tell who did not vote for Brandon. Himself!
“Mom Brandon for his reflex saves that gave us the draw n he got us out of jail with 4 great saves, most memorable was one of which was a reflex save which he palmed away the ball as he dived down to his right.”
“Motm to Brandon. At least 4 brilliant saves that kept us in the game. The first reflex save was EPL standard, and the final save, diving to his right to tip the goal bound shot wide was sheer class, most goalie would not have even reacted. Special mention to teck chye, he made a difference when he came on, taking on players, harassing them and holding on to the ball for teammates to get into position.”
“Brandon. Of course him, who else?”
“Motm: Brandon. Has superbly saved numerous goals from opponent to keep us in the game.”
“MOM to Brandon for the 3 or 4 high class saves. A safe pair of hands that kept us in the game.”
“Motm: Brandon, obviously. Fantastic saves at critical times!”
“MOTM - Brandon for his superb & spectacular performance!”
“Brandon. Numerous 'Gordan Banks' type saves. Enough Said.”
“MOTM was Brandon. Top class saves that kept us in the game.”
“MOTM - Brandon - thought this was already decided post match. He has given the backline a lot of confidence.”
“MoTM: Brandon is the man. He managed to keep us in the game as he managed to foil many of the opponent's number 7 shots who is looks like a better player than Peter Crouch as he can dribble past many of our players and shoot equally well with power.”
“Brandon for some reflex saves including a tip over save from a header destined for goal. a la Gordon Banks”
“Brandon - no doubt about it, make very good saves else we would have been 3-4 golas down in 1st half alone. But still think he has to be more commanding on the field, shout and give instruction to the defenders......too quiet..(on the field).......”
“Brandon for MoTM? That’s a given! I’m debating which save was the best – the first one or the last one?”

No prize for guessing who made his nomination for our No 7:
“MOM Weng Khong made his livewire presence felt especially in the 2nd half, keeping the attention in the opponents half with his confident runs.”