Woodlands Sec, Marsiling Rd - TC MBOG notched their first victory in SAMTAS league with a thumping 7-4 victory over Team Kamikaze in a see-saw affair. If the scoreline isn't sensational enough, then the comeback definitely is.
"It was breath-taking," said a relieved fan who was watching from his flat. "The way they never gave up when trailing was beyond words. And given that most of them were fasting. Absolutely sensational!"
The game was part of TeamCuzz's joint venture with MBOG in the SAMTAS League. Having lacked players, MBOG requested for TeamCuzz to supply some players. And supply they did. Zulkhairi, Fazlon, Shahrudin, Faisal, Shukur and Imran responded to the call, and formed almost half the team. This was the first time that TC MBOG showed a true on-pitch collaboration of the 2 teams. The starting eleven had 4 TeamCuzz players in more offensive positions, while MBOG controlled the backline.
The match was fast and furious. In the 7th minute, good exchanges left centre midfielder and Joint-Man-of-the-Match Haslam slicing open Kamikaze's defence with ease. His low cross found Shahrudin, who took a touch to bring the ball down before "kung-fuing" it in just like Cantona and the Crystal Palace Fan eons ago. A lapse in defence allowed Kamikaze back into the game on 12 minutes. Having failed to clear a rather harmless throw, Kamikaze's striker scored with a half-volley. 1-1.
In response, TC MBOG conjured another attack of their own. This time, it had TeamCuzz written all over it. Controlling a loose ball in centre of the pitch, Faisal laid the ball back to Imran who managed to find Shukur in the tightest of openings. Taking 2 touches, Shukur passed the ball to Shahrudin before making a diagonal run into the area. Shahrudin delayed on the ball before toe-poking it to Shukur. All this while, Faisal and Imran had been creeping slowly into the opponent's penalty area. Seeing Faisal free, Shukur crossed the ball with his right foot. Faisal then laid the ball back to Imran who, in typical Frank Lampard style, whacked the ball into the back of the net. 2-1. 6 passes to the goal. That was Cage soccer at its best. The build-up was deserving of Team Goal of the Season.
Goals continued to flow in. This time, it was Kamikaze's turn. In a "I-think-I'm-the-Best-Dribbler-in-the-World" moment, TC MBOG's GK tried dribbling the advancing striker and failed. The outcome need not be mentioned. 10 minutes later, another goal was conceeded after the GK failed to hold on to the ball following a corner, with the opposing player left with the simplest of tap-ins. 2-3.
The action-packed half did not end there. Good work by Syafiq and Shukur down the right found Haslam in the middle. Showing the gem of a player he really is, the 17-year-old took a deft touch to turn the defender before releasing a venomous left foot drill into the top corner. 3-3 was the score as the referee whistled for half-time.
If that half was great, the second was greater. As soon as the half started, TC MBOG's GK went on another wild frenzy. This time, he miskicked the ball totally while rushing out. The outcome need not be mentioned again. 4-3.
It was all TC MBOG after that as they went in search of the equaliser. From Shukur's near miss, to Haslam's corner, nothing seemed to be able to beat the opposing custodian. By that time, Kamikaze had lost some influence in the middle of the park which they enjoyed in the first half, and their menacing runs down the flanks were reduced to hopeful ones at best.
Then came the turning point. Khai, who had marshalled the defence excellently throughout the match, decided to play himself as another striker, as Zulkhairi dropped to central defence. The other Man-of-the-Match's first try at making an impact was a shot from range which rebounded off the cross bar to the amazement of many. It was already the 75th minute by then. In the 78th, a genius move by him resulted in the much deserved equaliser. Following a cross from Haslam, he beat the offside trap before lifiting the ball above the GK and into the net. 4-4. They say you learn from mistakes, and Khai duely delivered. He tried another random shot from range but this time, it went in via the top corner. Wonderful! 5-4.
The floodgates continued. Good work at winning the ball at left-back by Fazlon resulted in a pass to Shahrudin, who had acres of space and time to look up and lob over the GK from range, a similar effort he successfully executed against MBOG at Compassvale Secondary once. His celebration, oh you guessed it, was Cantona-like. 6-4.
A change of ball towards the end then provided the final icing on the cake for TC MBOG. A marauding run by Faisal down the left made him breeze through the opposing defence like they weren't there, before setting up Shukur who incisively placed the ball in the back of the net with a lob. 7-4 was the final score.
"Marvelous performance by the boys, particularly our very own TeamCuzz players," said the delighted Imran, who had to interview himself. "The satisfaction was comparable to our 4-1 thumping of NIE Junior Team at NIE Campus. It would certainly have been better if we achieved this feat with all our cousins, but I'm really staisfied. More importantly, TC MBOG's goal diffrence is now even. Everyone of us deserved to be Man-of-Match if not for the extreme brilliance of Khai and Haslam." Giving a rating of 9 for every TeamCuzz player who played, Imran had a short review of each:
Zulkhairi - Composure and versatility was for all to see. Complemented Haslam especially well when he came on and protected the defence. Notably, only 1 goal was conceeded when he was playing.
Fazlon - A last minute decision to turn up turned out to be crucial. Performed well to harrass the opposing defence in the 1st half. Felt right at home at left back in the second half, canceling all the dazzles and tricks of opposing wingers.
Shahrudin - Leadership was apparent in the organisation of the team. At 3/4 -fitness, was still able to contribute significantly. A very influential player as he provided a fulcrum for attack and linked up well with bot midfielders and strikers.
Faisal - Was full of running, as if he wasn't fasting. Had and showed bags of tricks throughout the match, particularly a Dennis Bergkamp-like skill in the first half. His ability to distribute was evident by his 2 assists.
Shukur - Lack of fitness was made up with the perseverance and hunger for goals, which paid off at the very end of the match. Showed the natural, incisive and reliable finisher that he is when it comes to one-on-ones.
Team Cuzz (v Team Kamikaze on 06 Sep): Imran, Zulkhairi, Fazlon, Shukur, Shahrudin, Faisal
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