Espzen FA Cup saw debut team Chestercity Football Club takes on Division 6 Poseur United on a drizzling Pierce Secondary School.
With players like Faizal, Syafiq still weeks away from match fitness, City have only 10 players available during kick off after few familiar faces like Alang, Aizam, Zaini, Stanton all pulled out due to work issues.
City coach deployed 4-4-1 formation with Safiuddin in goal, Xavier and Syaikhan retains their full back position and Charlie and Sufiyan marshalling the centre.
Eizzul started on the right wing, Rohaizad started in the centre with Hadi and Jelson on the left. With Tam late, Airul was lone upfront.
The team from division 6 shows their attacking aggression when within the 2nd min goal Poseur Utd scored after a mix up in defence.
Both teams tries to win every single challenge and every single play was cut off equally well by both teams.
Tam was finally brought on and he partners Airul upfront.
After Tam was brought on, he link up well with Airul and City's top scorer was brought down and referee straight away points to the spot. After last week's miss against Teban, Airul left it for Tam who makes no mistake from the spot to draw City level in the 22nd minute.
2 minutes later, Poseur felt the pressure from City's attack. A routine throw forward by United's goalkeeper only found the feet of Rohaizad who sends a lob forcing the backpaddling goalkeeper who does well to stop from going in but Tam was on hand to pounce it in for his second goal.
In the 38th minute, Rohaizad picks up the ball in the centre and from 20 yards out, he shoots only to see the ball hit the post. Poseur survive another City scare.
Half time stays at 2-1. City leads.
2 min after the restart, Rohaizad yet again has a chance but he saw his shot comfortably saved by keeper.
Syaikhan then did well when stop an attempt from opponent to make the scoreline stays at 2-1.
Coach Ridwan then came on for Jelson in the 50th min trying to stabilized the midfield.
Then things get ugly when United left back kick out at Tam when the latter was in possession. The ball went out of play but Tam swings an arm which the referee saw but only shows a yellow card for Tam. The United players jumped at the throat of the referee questioning him on the decision on not sending off Tam.
Both teams lost their cool and had to be separated. The teams lost it again when Charlie and the number 18 clash and again players from both teams tried to play peacemaker. It's getting ugly but referee remain calm and the match continues. Then Rohaizad went off for a while after having cramps to his leg as City kept using the same players as sub due to short in numbers. On comes Jelson yet again on the 55th minute.
4 mins after coming on, Jelson repays the faith by scoring City's 3rd goal. Hadi latch on to a loose ball beats a player and squared it to Jelson who beats the goalkeeper with a low shot with the post helping it on it's way to make the scoreline 3-1 in favor of City.
Rohaizad coming on back replacing Eddy have a chance to extend City's lead but his freekick went high. On the 70th min, City sealed the victory when Eizzul does well on the right wing, sending a measured cross to the unmarked Airul who scored with a diving header. Every single player goes across to Eizzul and congratulate him for that piece of magic. 4-1 to City. Again after City scored, Poseur and City players get onto each other throats and again they have to be separated after players from both teams are not happy with bad tackles and lunges made.
Then Poseur tried to stage a comeback. With pride on the table, Poseur scored after a defensive mistake yet again to make the scoreline respectable at 4-2 on the 77th min.
Straight from the restart, Rohaizad attempt a long shot but it went high and wide. Again things boiled over as two teams still can't stop arguing with each other after a bad tackle.
After the scuffle referee threaten to stop the match with a player from Poseur being booked. With referee playing stoppage time of 6 minutes, Poseur number 18 scored the last goal of the match but it was too little too late as City claimed the victory they deserved. Players from both teams finished the match with handshakes.
City coach Ridwan said, "It's a good win for the lads marred with controversies and bad tackles. We are lucky that every single player finished the match fit with only a few having minor cramps. I'm happy that we marched on in this cup overcoming the odds. We don't let the number in front of the division put us off cause its just a number. We've played division 1 and division 7 team before so Poseur is just another team. It's not a good scene to see players from both side argue and going over the top with challengers but that shows how determined both teams are and how badly they want this win but it's a good sign with Poseur congratulating on our win and all ends with a handshake. My players have improved a lot and they have forgotten about the loss to Teban and they did stumendously well by overcoming the odds in beating this Division 6 team today. This will be a warning sign to all the other teams who are still in the hunt of the cup that we are here to win it. I hope this performance will be stay on for the rest of the season. This Sunday against TGA in the league, we need to collect all 3 points to stand a chance at the title but I'm sure that TGA would want a revenge on the 8-7 defeat they've suffered at our hands. I hope results will go our way but today was a superb performance by all the lads.
