Match #39 (23 Aug 09): Another Abysmal Performance = Another Loss

It has become a familiar sight of late. That was the opening statement in last report and it is just as applicable for this week. Our performance of late is anything but decent. All the pre-match warm-up and thunderous shots at goal were at best flattering to deceive. Perhaps, we are just that, the pre-match team. During the match, the team is standing on foundation made of sand, anything but solid.

We could not complain of playing against a younger team as some of Selangor Lookalikes players were more senior than us and to be fair, our average age seemed to be lower than theirs. They are not a skilful team but they are superior in movement into space, passing and most important of all, teamwork. In the opening 10 minutes when they were playing with 1 man short, it did not seem that way as they controlled the game with ease and seized the lead. We might blame it on the small pitch but we should not have given their midfielder the world of his time to shoot from just after the centre line. All along, we thought only Kian Hwa, if as keeper, could not deal with high ball but Gan, our stand-in keeper, assured KH that it was normal to concede such a goal. Gan failed to deal with the long shot and the ball dipped just below the bar for their opening goal. 1 – 0. Mike, back from his paternity break, put in an encouraging performance down the left. He anticipated well to run onto Simon’s high through ball but his recent baby must have been keeping him up at nights and thus deprived him of that ounce of energy to get to the ball in time. Sloppy passing by Ng gave the ball away to their skilful striker, who then wriggled his way down their right flank like a slippery eel, with Ng already soundly beaten and Mike hugging the side line instead of challenging him. His movement into the box continued unimpeded and seeing Gan not advancing to narrow the angle, this striker beat Gan with a low blistering shot. 2 – 0!

Chor Guan, ever so eager to lend his lungs and limbs in attack, first tested SL’s keeper with a long range shot from a free-kick and then came close with a header at the far post to meet a corner from KH. He was later left unmarked again to head another corner, this time from Teck Wah, just wide off the post. We reduced the deficit, courtesy of Teck Chye’s persistence. His first header to meet a free kick went upwards but he regained his positional sense to have a 2nd bite of the cherry by heading the ball towards goal. That resulted in a goal mouth scramble and Chwee Leng had the final say to hook the ball into the net to make it 2 – 1 at half-time.

We resumed the match with a higher sense of purpose. See Chiang was put through down the left but his touches continued to desert him and instead of his famous toe-poke, he blasted the through ball over the bar. He atoned for his lacklustre display with finally a decent square pass across the box. Mike popped up at the far post to celebrate his 3rd-time fatherhood with our equalising goal, 2 – 2!  For a period we were enjoying the upperhand. Kian Hwa, replacing Chwee Leng, produced a well-timed run to meet Teck Wah’s through pass but his shot on the run was a bit hasty though it was not far off the mark. For this miss, Teck Chye continued to haunt Kian Hwa for failing to put us in the lead, which might have produced a different outcome. SL punished our lax marking in the box to get their 3rd goal when their striker rose unchallenged to meet a corner to head past Gan. 3 – 2. We almost produced an instant reply after Chor Guan brushed off his marker to cushion Teck Chye’s beautiful cross-field pass. Seeing the keeper way off his line, Chor Guan’s attempt to lob the keeper lacked the finesse of the lob-expert, Teck Chye and the effort went wide. Teck Chye had another attempt when he was first to meet a corner at the near post but he failed to direct the ball on target. We should be familiar with the pitch but our crosses from the flanks were simply over hit - once from Weng Khong in the 1st half from the right, Kian Hwa did likewise from the opposite flank in the 2nd half, or lacking accuracy as Simon twice failed to pick out his target in the box after breaking free on the right.

Our defence, anchored by Weng Kwan, worked overtime to repel SL’s incessant attacks. Their long-range shooter had a few tries at goal, each shot was packed with power but not the direction. On one occasion when the shot looked destined for goal, Gan produced a breathtaking tipping save to deny this midfielder of further glory. Nothing was to deny their 4th goal. SL striker’s sudden change of pace enable him to waltz past Weng Kwan and Hock Leong before placing the ball past Gan for their goal No 4. 4 – 2! Our final effort came off the left foot of Chor Guan, who ran from box to box throughout the match, and after seeing his final attempt go wide, the final whistle was blown. Another disappointing ending to the match and our dismal run continued.

Man of The Team: (5 out of 14 votes)

His earnest effort to get us back into the game was admirable. Chor Guan just nipped Gan by 1 vote:

1. “motm - chor guan....stamp his authority in both defence and midfield.........”

2. “motm: Chor Guan. Did overtime having to swat away numerous balls past our defense line. subsequently made his presence felt when pushed to midfield.”

3. “We are kind of leaky at the back but also due to the fact that the midfielders also didnt provide the first line of defend adequately. My MOTM will be the one who fight well in his role and he is Chor Guan.”

4. “Chor Guan for MoTM – our most attacking defender. Just count the number of scoring chances he had!
5. “MOTM is Chor Guan. CG harassed their midfield when placed there. Good all round display and nearly scored a last minute goal”

4 votes for Gan. 1 for each goal conceded? :)

1. “motm to gan - some assured takes and good judgement. little he could do about the well-taken goals by opponents.”

2. “MOTM is Gan - "made some good saves"

3. “MOM-Gan: what a wonderful world class save in the 2nd half.”

4. “MOTM - Despite letting in 4 goals, I still give my vote to Gan. Basically, I think all the outfield players did not featured significantly to win my vote. Gan volunteered to continue as keeper despite his itch to play outfield. Secondly, he did made a few saves, otherwise the scoreline will be even bigger. Lastly, Gan cannot be blamed for most of the goals.”

 

Teck Chye came in 3rd with 3 nominations:

1. “teck chye. hold the ball well, enjoy watching him dribble pass 2 to 3 defender quite a few time...”

2. “MOTM = Chye. Despite the lost, Chye showed his class and skills a more skillfull opposition. Create good chances out of nothing in numerous occassion but was unlucky not to have scored. Admired his ability in controlling the ball and picking up teamates with good passes.”

3. “Motm to teck chye, made a difference when he was playing, especially in midfield. Held on to ball well and disrupted their play and passing.”

1 each for Chwee Leng and Weng Kwan:

1. “Vote goes to Chwee Leng. On a day that most of us were off, he was playing at his top form.”

2. “MOTM goes to Weng Kuan for holding his defence line well & defending industriously”