Goal!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

FC MUNJEN PORTUGUESE 2-2 NEXUS FC

Azhar (30') Binlong (15')
Jiewei (40') Ivan (85')

In what was meant to be only the second encounter against this free-flowing football side, Munjen Portuguese received a pre-match scare when brothers Rio Izzat and Anton Izman alerted the gaffer of their unavailability mere hours before kick-off.

In the end, Munjens took to the field with a 9-men line-up, still with spriits high, nevertheless.

Starting Line-up: Haris (GK) Fahmi (RB) Siusing (CB) Wenxiong (CB) John (LB) Jiewei (CM) Azhar (CM) Hafriz (CM) Fir (FW)

Munjens got the match underway, and they made up for their lack in numbers with excuisite passing moves, effortlessly keeping the ball.

Hafriz was first to have an attempt on goal, but was unfortunate to miscontrol the ball in the box.

As Munjens pushed up the field, their lack in numbers showed in defence. The opponents took advantage of this, and against the run of play, got the opener with only a quarter of the first half played.

Munjens soon got their equaliser following their relentless efforts. From an attack down the left wing, Hafriz earned the team a corner. Fir whipped in an inswinger with pace, and Azhar met it with a thunderous header into goal.

Azhar then got a chance to double his tally, but his free-kick went agonisingly inches above the crossbar.

Nexus looked to regain their lead now, with Ivan and Chi constantly running riot around Fahmi and Siusing down the left. And at times when they finally managed to go past the defence, Haris was equal to their efforts.

Munjens continued to dominate play with their passing game. Siusing found Hafriz this time with a ball through the middle, but Hafriz's shot was well blocked.

With minutes to half time, a throw-in from Fir found Jiewei down the left flank, who jinxed past two defenders and placed a shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Against all odds, Munjens went into the half-time leading 2-1.

Nexus started the second half brightly, with Munjens obviously exhausted having had to cover extra grounds.

Minutes on, Chi had an excellent opportunity from a one-on-one with Haris, but the Munjen keeper did well to collect the ball from his feet.

Chi again had an opportunity later, but his attempt to lob Haris went wide instead.

Binlong came as close as it could get soon after, his shot came crashing back from the crossbar.

Minutes later, a short corner played in from the left found Joshua, whose pin shot seemed destine for goal, only to be disappointed as Haris tipped it over the bar.

Over at the other end, Azhar's through pass found Jiewei, whose solo effort beat 3 defenders, but their keeper did enough to see the ball go off over the line.

Hafriz then had a couple of volleys from just outside the box, but both went over the crossbar.

Nexus regained possession of the ball, and this time, an attack down the middle saw a snap shot from Ivan well saved from Haris. It seemed that everything Nexus looked to throw at Haris, he was simply equal to them.

The defence quartet marshaled by Siusing and Wenxiong looked to hold on as they pressed Nexus trying to run down the clock.

In the end, it was their star winger Ivan who clinched the equaliser with a stunning strike which swerved beyond Haris' outstretched arms.

2-2 the final score, and perhaps a deserving end for both teams.

-fir

1:54 PM