Goal!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Match Report [Week 1]

FC Munjen Portuguese VS FC Angkatan Polisi

@ Padang Siglap

The FA has decided to pit the Munjens against Angkatan Polisi for this season's opener. And what a match it promised to be, as much expectation was heaped on the Munjens after the way they ended last season.

Munjens went to the game without team striker Haris, flown to Indonesia for a short stint with Sriwijaya FC. Apart from that, the gaffer had a full team at her disposal.

Minutes before the game, team skipper Wee Yang and defenders Izzat and Amin had yet to report to the team. News crept into the dressing room that Wee Yang was showing off his modellic body in a nearby swimming pool to the chickies whereas Amin got lost in his private cab. No news however, was heard of Izzat.

Starting line-up: Brian (GK) Addison (LB) Wenxiong (CB) Thiru (CB) Siusing (RB) Kenneth (LB) Firdaus (CM) Peter (CM) Sanjay (CM) Lucien (ST) Adrian (ST)

Munjens started strongly and attacked from the start. They continued to keep possession with their short passing game. Their pre-season closed door training had apparently worked for them.

Lucien was first to test the opposition goalkeeper, his shot narrowly shaving the upright. And the likes of Adrian, Sanjay, Peter and Firdaus soon joined in the foray of attack, with Adrian missing a couple of good chances.

In the end, it was Kenneth who broke the dead lock. The ball fell to him from a clearance, and sensing the goalie off his line, sent a glorious chip over the keeper. 1-0 to the Munjens!

Lucien added Munjens' second soon after, a well-worked goal following an estimated seven threaded passes.

The opposition, far from dejected, started to attack. And from their first real attack, hit a shot that went right under the crossbar, leaving Brian stranded.

By that time, Wee Yang and Amin had arrived, and the skipper was automatically installed as goalkeeper.

Munjens continued to attack, and continued to miss a host of chances. 2-1 to the Munjens at half time.

The second half started with Munjens playing as brilliantly as the first. But their short-passing game faded soon after as fatigue caught up with the players. It was a good thing though, that Izzat had popped up from nowhere - his was a much-needed presence.

Munjens then conceded a goal, and with the score tied at 2-2, it was anybody's game.

Munjens pressed for a winner, and even Siusing ventured into attack, sprinting the ball half the length of the field, before trying a delicate chip that landed into the side netting instead.

In the end, it was Lucien who stepped up. His individual play got Munjens' third, his second, and the final for the game.

Final score, 3-2 to Munjens.

Wee Yang apologetic

Skipper Wee Yang said after the match, "It was a good win for the guys. Finally we've got some belief in our football."

"I'd also like to make a public apology to the team, and to our fans, for my late-coming earlier today. I believe it was my first of my entire career. I had no choice though, I was lazing around in the public pool nearby topless, and the chickies were cramming around me, all wanting a piece of me. I needed time to politely ask each and everyone of them off.."

Short passes the way to go

Man-of-the-match Lucien was upbeat after the game, "It's nice to know how it feels to win once again. I really think we just have to keep on playing the way we did in the first-half - that should bring us victories after victories."

Right-winger Firdaus agreed, "We played some nice football today, in the first half especially. But I believe we could have done better if we really had our established centre mid out there today. We've been missing players like Darius and Jiewei for some time now, and I can just hope they'd be back sooner than later."

"I'm happy for Lucien with his brace. Both well-taken goals. But I'm also looking forward to having the old goal-scoring form of Adrian back. I don't think any true Munjen fan could have forgotten that he once scored in every single game for us."

9:48 PM