The 4-2-3-1 line-up might have survived the big pitch in last Saturday’s match at Safra but our opponent then, Modello, and us were fairly even teams. Wednesday’s match posed a bigger test to us with both the big pitch and a very strong opponent in BB. The last time we squared up, it was on New Year’s eve and then, BB possessed, among their ranks, a few ex-internationals e.g. Tan Sio Beng, Tan Kim Leng, Lim Soon Seng. With a lop-sided 80%:20% possession in their favour, how we managed to restrict ourselves to a mere 2 – 0 loss was a miracle. Perhaps, they have seen the light that there is no fun in overrunning their opponents in such social matches. Thus, we were glad that the above trio were nowhere in sight when their players streamed in on Wednesday but BB still packed enough quality to overwhelm us. And they did just that right from the 1st minute of the match. A through pass down their left caught Chung Wen and Weng Khong cold and this had their left winger surged into the box and hit a ferocious shot that cannoned off the left upright. Before we could react, their right winger followed up on the rebound but his shot was smothered. That was a fierce intent they made and it certainly instilled some chill into us.
The Rock was a calming force and kept urging us to keep our shape but nobody was exactly surprised when BB seized the lead early in the match. Leo missed clearing a piercing pass by an inch and this allowed the ball to reach their central striker who, just outside the box and with his back facing the goal, knew exactly where the target was. A quick turn and he put the ball past the advancing Brandon into the unguarded goal. 0 – 1!
Both Kian Hwa and Simon came close with their free-kicks but it was the hardworking Gan who finally broke his barren spell to restore parity. Kian Hwa managed to intercept a pass just outside BB’s penalty box and laid the ball to Gan. One look at where BB’s keeper was standing, the next move for Gan was to shoot from outside the box. The keeper looked a bit suspicious in high balls and it proved to be right. He couldn’t deal with the dipping shot and we were all square, 1 – 1! BB’s keeper’s uncertainty in handling high balls was a kink in their armour. He failed again to deal cleanly with Teck Chye’s corner and the ball dropped kindly in front of Kok Hock, making his first appearance in months due to knee injury. Ironically, it was his injured left knee that knocked the loose ball over the line, a surprising 2 – 1 lead for us!
BB’s fluency in passing and superior fitness started to stretch us apart and a few of us started losing our positional plays. Kian Hwa was one of the guilty ones as he lost sight of their right wide man, who cushioned a high ball nicely down for their Malay striker to hit a rocket from outside the box. Brandon had no answer to the shot and the ball went through this grip for BB’s equaliser. 2 – 2! We could have gone into the break a goal down but BB fluffed their penalty, which was awarded against Melvin for tripping their nippy right winger in the box. To our relief, their last man sent the ball from the spot to kiss the left post again. 1st half ended at 2 apiece.
The gulf in quality prevailed even more starkly in the 2nd half. We were left chasing after their players and the score line in the 2nd half. We failed to clear a corner cleanly and their burly defender walloped a first-timer that had everyone in the box flat-footed, 2 – 3! We refused to lie down and be run over and our 3rd goal was a combination of determined harassment and good anticipation. Ng surged down the left flank to harass their right back, forcing the latter to pass a square ball towards his keeper. Gan anticipated the back pass and managed to nip in front of the static keeper to rob the ball from him. With the open goal at his mercy, Gan did no wrong. 3 – 3!
The match was certainly not for the faint-hearted with how one side kept snatching the lead and the other side kept battling back for survival. BB were awarded another penalty when Weng Kwan was adjudged to have brought down their player. Their midfield playmaker made no mistake with the conversion, despite Brandon diving the right way. 3 – 4! Our Tang brothers had other ideas and together, they conjured up a goal of class and quality. The elder Tang did just so well to hold the ball and turned his markers. He coolly chipped the ball onto the path of the younger Tang, who produced a van Basten’s volley into the far post, leaving BB’s 2nd half keeper no chance. 4 – 4!
Just when we seemed to look assured, another piece of poor marking in the box allowed their sweeper to meet a corner unchallenged at the far post. His downward header escaped both Ng and Brandon and they restored their lead again, 4 – 5! All seemed over with the clock ticking away. Teck Wah recovered a lost ball and sent it down the right to Gan. Gan pushed the ball forward as ST went over to collect, held it long enough before crossing it to Chwee Leng, whose initial attempt actually hit the side netting and came back into play. Thinking the ball was already out of play, BB’s defender handled the ball and to their disbelief, the referee pointed to the spot. Gan required no further invitation to go for his hat-trick, maintained his composure and beat the keeper from the spot. 5 – 5 and the final whistle went off, otherwise we might have gone on to produce a badminton score!
If football is not adrenalin pumping, what is?
Man of The Match: Gan (11 out of 15 votes)
The hardworking Gan broke his barren spell with not only a goal but a hat-trick! Facing off with Brickwork Boyz’ imposing defenders was no easy task but Gan was certainly up to it. A thoroughly deserving MoTM!
1. “MOTM goes to Gan for his tireless work as a lone striker & his cool conversion of the penalty which earned determined MARINE SUNDAY a hard-fought draw. What a game against a very strong opponent!”
2. “My motm goes to gan. As a lone ranger upfront, he worked hard to hold the ball so that the rest of the guys can join in the attack.”
3. “Motm goes to gan. Excellent control, held on to ball superbly, shielded ball well and it allowed our midfielders time to move up when we attack. Created havoc for their defenders with both flair and brute strength.”
4. “motm: lone striker...hattrick...need not elaborate...Gan lah!”
5. “His industry brought him a deserving hattrick & a draw for us. Held his nerve well to equalise fr penalty spot with the last kick of the match. Motm to Gan!”
6. “Motm 14 oct: Gan. Difficult job he made look easy. Was everywhere, got involved, confident. I won't dilute this by mentioning other worthy teammates.”
7. “My MOM is a toss up between Teck Chye and Gan , Teck Chye was always instrumental in creating opportunities including the defence splitting sublime pass to Teck Wah for his almost Van Basten look alike goal, where as Gan again played his heart out holding , shielding and scoring as well. This time around , I will go for Gan.”
8. “gan. cool finishing on the last minute penalty of the game.”
9. “We really struggled to string passes together on a big pitch. But we made the shots at goal count. Gan did well as a lone striker. His passes could have been better, and faster, but there is doubting his finishing and his tenacity. That he picked up the ball for the last gasp penalty equaliser speaks volumes of his confidence. A hat-trick against a good team is an achievement. Gan gets my vote.”
10. “MOtm- 14 OCt - Who else but Gan. Beautiful 1st goal, confidently taken penalty....and a hattrick.....good performance playing as a lone striker. However, still think sometimes he got to release the ball earlier or do one touch passing.”
11. “Motm-gan, scored hattrick against organised opponents in wide pitch”
While Gan stole the limelight, Teck Chye’s performance was a big plus for us in the matches to come. 2 votes placed him in 2nd position:
1. “MOM: Chye-he was the most consistent on the pitch and made at least 2 goals”
2. “No doubt Gan starred for us with his 3 well taken goals. But the only one who could match them and was able to take them on was Teck Chye. How he created the goal for Teck Wah spelt coolness and class and vision! Teck Chye is my choice!”
Both Ng and Teck Wah had 1 vote each. Teck Wah scored a beauty and was hardworking throughout. That has become our expectation of him, sort of. How our 3rd goal came about was due to, in no small measure, Ng’s harassment of their right fullback. Marginally, 3rd position goes to Ng:
1. “MOTM for 14th Oct = Ng. Despite facing opposition trickery and fast winger, he managed to contain him well and kept his crosses to minimum. Few critical tackles that break out their attacks. Some excellent throw-in too that create attacking opportunities for the the midfield and striker.”
Teck Wah, please do not be disheartened! Keep up that work rate!
1. “MOTM for 14 Oct Match - it was a satisfying game for a new era (4231, or 4321 or whatever combination). Amongst us stand some who had contributed the most to the game. My vote goes to Teck Wah. He seems to be playing with more purpose recently, defending as well as supporting the attack, asking for ball in the middle and above all, scored a wonder of a goal yesterday. I must also mention Teck Chye for a good display when he was playing in the centre of the 3. He is able to hold on to the ball until more supports arrive and launch the attack.”
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