Xin Min Sec, Hougang Ave 8 – Another thrilling encounter in the SAMTAS League saw Chesire United beating FC MBOG 3-2. It was a disappointing result considering the momentum which FC MBOG had picked up with consecutive victories in the past couple of games.
The match started with another FC MOBG’s worst-kept secret – punctuality, or the lack of it. Contrary to the opposing team’s readiness for the game with a warm-up routine, FC MBOG only had 4 players to start the match (the reporter must admit he wasn’t part of the 4). It had fans wondering it was a weekend friendly in the park rather than the professional SAMTAS League. Credit must be given to the referee and opponents for their understanding in not just allowing a walkover.
FC MBOG started with 9 players in an unfamiliar 4-3-1 formation – Zulkhairi in goal, Khairil and Fazlon as full backs, Sharil and Khairul as centre backs, Shukur, Imran and Syukri spread across midfield, and Naufal as the lone striker. The game plan was as simple as it can get – hold the opponents till reinforcements arrive.
To the amazement of many, even their own players, FC MBOG took the lead in the very first attack of the game. Good pressure by the strikers and midfielders, coupled with a moment of insanity by the opposing GK, left Shukur dispossessing the custodian. With the tightest of angles, he managed to squeeze one home. It was the fastest goal scored in a competitive football match after Hakan Sukur’s 12th-second goal against Korea in World Cup 2002.
The lead would have made FC MBOG’s game plan of holding out all the more apparent. However, lack of composure, and perhaps too much excitement caused them to divert from the original plan. That gave Chesire United a chance back into the game, and the equalizer too. In the 12th minute of play, a swift Chesire counter attack left the right winger holding off a couple of FC MBOG’s defenders before doing a Gheorghe Hagi lob. Fluke or wonder goal? You decide.
Chesire then started dominating the game and scored a second. By then, FC MBOG’s reinforcements had arrived. They tried their best to change the game but to no avail. Chesire’s physical style left FC MBOG players with injuries, notably to the stomachs of Fazlon and Shahrudin. It also awarded Chesire’s very own V.Subramaniam a yellow card. The half time whistle was music to FC MBOG as it allowed time to reform.
Various changes were made to the team as the normal shape and 4-5-1 formation was implemented. They didn’t need any invitation to conjure up their first attack of the half as soon as it started. Naufal’s mazy run and eventual cross gave Syukri a chance to equalize but the GK did well to palm the ball away. The subsequent corner saw Imran’s header hitting the cross bar. Confidence was sky high then as their normal flow of attack kicked in. However, against the run of play, the opposing striker controlled a loose ball on the right and curled in a sweet right footer into Aril’s goal. 3-1 to Chesire.
Determined to level up the scores, FC MBOG continued to dominate the half with attacks and the lion’s share of possession. It started with Shahrudin’s layoff for Shukur, but the latter saw his left footed, near post shot parried away by the GK. In another attack, Shahrudin’s purposeful run into the box resulted in an opponent’s desperate attempt to stop the former by toe-poking the ball right across his own goal mouth. Unfortunately, no one was there to tap it in. The subsequent rebound, after good work from Arul, left Imran bending it from outside the area but it was too high. Then, Syafiq had a good chance after breaking the opponent’s offside trap but the custodian guarded his near post well again. Their efforts paid off as they got a goal back through Arul’s low drive after a defensive lapse.
FC MBOG continued in search of that elusive equalizer. Corner kicks were earned but not converted. Attacks after attacks were thwarted by the opposing team’s defensive line, well marshaled by Abbas Saad. Next, Riduan’s well taken freekick grazed the crossbar.
Then came the most controversial part of the game. V.Subramaniam was awarded a second yellow card for another cynical foul on FC MBOG’s captain. The resulting freekick saw the captain whipping one in straight to the GK which rebounded off the custodian’s chest and into the path of on-rushing Imran. The midfielder managed to get a little touch on the ball to force a rebound off the GK and left Shukur with the simplest of tap-ins. However, the referee deemed the challenge unfair even though no touch was made on the GK whatsoever. Unbelievable but true. And so the legitimate goal was chalked off.
A final attempt at an equalizer saw a goal mouth scramble but Chesire managed to defend in numbers to clear their lines. They even had the cheek to try to score towards the end to make the scroeline far worse but found Aril at his best. The referee blew the final whistle after 2 short minutes of injury time.
In a rare face-to-face interview, the referee said, “It was a great game on a magnificent pitch. I had fun officiating this match, apart from the delayed kickoff. The team in blue certainly deserved at least a point but that’s soccer sometimes. I can’t help but notice this young lad Syukri. He was everywhere, even on the bench for one moment. The way he challenges for the ball and took on defenders head-on was impressive to say the least. Yes I awarded him a yellow card but that tackle was an example of his desire to win the ball. That should be imparted to his teammates. It was no doubt a Man-of-the-Match performance for me.”
As the interview was going on, the referee made reference to the post match team briefing held by FC MBOG and mentioned it was certainly a good practice to be made after every match, not just after a lost. He also grudgingly admitted that he made a mistake in disallowing the goal. But as the Malay saying goes, “Rice have turned into porridge”, and so there was no point in talking about it.
That leaves FC MBOG with 7 points from 5 games, and an uphill task to catch up on the leaders. Uphill, not impossible…..
Team Cuzz (v Chesire United on 28 Sep): Aril, Sharil Noni, Khairul, Riduan, Saifudin, Zulkhairi, Firdaus, Syafiq, Khairil, Fazlon, Syukri, Naufal, Imran, Shahrudin, Arul, Shukur.
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