Goal!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

MUNJENS SHOW SPIRIT

Starting the match without household names like twin strikeforce Adrian and Lucien, midfield general Darius, hitman Haris and defensive rock Azhar, Munjen seemed to be facing an uphill task against a side much hyped about. But through the 90 minutes, the Munjens showed much steel enough to have taken at least a point from the game.

Team manager Jac surely have alot of positives to take from the game. Fielding a makeshift side with largely defensive players, the Munjens started off with a defensive formation.

Starting line-up: Wee Yang (Capt/GK) Siu Sing (RB) Wen Xiong (CB) Izzat (CB) Izman (LB) Aaron (RW) Peter (CM) Jiewei (CM) Nallu (CM) Terence (LW) Firdaus (ST)

Substitute: Amin (CB) Hafriz (CM)

Munjens showed excellent organisation from the start, and the players were disciplined in keeping shape soaking up the pressure and releasing the ball upfront for a quick counter attack.

Jiewei showed why Munjens have been missing him badly with his energetic runs and telephatic play with lone striker Firdaus. It was his defence-splitting pass that released Firdaus through on goal, but his attempted shot was well blocked by the opponent.

The resultant corner saw a quickly-taken one to Nallu, whose one-two with Firdaus saw him running into the box only but his final ball failed to reach the others in the box.

Back at the other end, skipped Wee Yang was strongly commanding the backline, with Izzat and Wen Xiong commanding every patch of grass with timely takcles and cool displays.

The opponents had a good chance on goal, but this time, Siu Sing was on hand to calmly bring the ball away from the goal line.

It wasn't about to remain a stalemate though. The opponent broke the deadlock from a free kick just outside the penalty box. Wee Yang had seemingly gathered the ball at the bottom left corner of the goal, but the ball somehow spilled from his hands. A couple of pass and simple tap-in later, and it was one goal down to the Munjens.

Good play down the left flank by the speedy Terence released Firdaus, whose cut-in beat one defender, but his resultant cross was well blocked. Firdaus himself took the corner, and his curling cross was met with a glorious glancing header by Nallu but it struck the woodwork. That was perhaps Munjens best chance in the half.

The injection of Hafriz brought much creativity and he didn't take long to create havoc in the opposition. Silky footwork saw him going past 3 before releasing the ball to Firdaus, who saw Jiewei making a good run towards goal - but his final ball let him down.

Peter was a thorn in the opposition's side, winning balls cleverly and he clearly kept the game to a one-goal difference at half-time.

Munjen started the second half strongly, turning attack after attack into goal-scoring chances. Hafriz's silky footwork remained a headache to the opposition and a succession of one-twos between Jiewei and Firdaus nearly gave Munjen the much needed equaliser.

A corner to the back post saw a goal mouth scramble. The opposition failed to clear, and the ball went to Hafriz who was lurking outside the box. His thunderbolt went inches wide off the upright.

A rare attack at the other end then saw the opponents getting their second for the day.

By this time, the drizzling rain has turned into a downpour, and cries of lighting from Nallu (obviously freaked out being the tallest around) convinced the referee to stop the game.

Both teams were eager to continue the match, and 20 minutes later, the referee decided to get the match underway. There was one problem though - the Munjens are down to 9 men, with Izman and Aaron already gone and Amin stranded helplessly in the sick bay. At this time, reporters were told that Amin was down with a rare disease.

Munjen did turn up to the field, but when they finally did so, it was onlt 10 of them. A section of the crowd burst into cheers suddenly, and soon the whole stadium erupted with a standing ovation. Amin had emerged from the tunnel with his jersey and cleats on, despite his clearly distorted face. It was surely a moment to remember.

Munjens pushed on for an equaliser. Two shots in quick succession by Nallu still failed to beat their keeper. Frustration grew, and in a moment of madness, Nallu saw a red card flashed upon him for an ill-timed tackle.

Munjens had to step down a gear from then on, but the back four showed much courage and determination. Jiewei and Terence were busy helping with the defence too, but that did not stop them from adding a third.

A weak shot towards goal showed no threat, but a clearance by Peter at the goal line hit the bouncy tummy of an onrushing opponent and bounced into goal. That perhaps summed up the poor luck Munjens had.

Another goal came soon after - this time a lob over skipper Wee Yang.

With nothing to lose, Munjens sent Izzat upfront, and he showed everyone why he had started his playing career as a striker. Beating 4 opponent players and leaving them stranded a la Joe Cold, he was nearly through on goal, only to be denied by a timely tackle.

Izzat's silky runs brought Hanis to her feet, as captured by the cameras. Hanis, the club's sole season ticket holder, is reportedly having a special relationship with Izzat.

At the other end, the referee awarded a penalty for a tackle by Peter. Replays showed that he had clearly taken the ball way before the man - and justice was well-served when the resulting panalty kick was aimed for the skies.

It remained 0-4 till the final whistle - but it was surely a scoreline that failed to reflect the end-to-end battling display.

At the post-match conference, a visibly disappointed Wee Yang had little to say but insisted he was proud of the lads, especially the defence. "Special mention goes to Amin, whose heroics would go down into the history books of of our club".

-Fir

9:20 PM