After a month of layoff, Season 18 match at Serangoon Garden Sec produces one of the best mouthwatering end to end attacking display between Chestercity FC and TGA Buffalo.
City starts the game with 2 new faces in the line up. Mongolian Tushig Od was given the nod ahead of Syaikhan and Australian Stanton Hor partners Afizan in defence in absence of Yazid. Rohaizad was put in a makeshift right back as City's coach sticks to the 4-3-1-2 formation with Ruzaidi making his first start alongside evergreen Charlie and hardworking midfielder Faizal. Izzat was deployed in the hole behind in form striker Airul and Aizam. TGA Buffalo will want to get all 3 points after their win over Legacy in their previous match.
As soon as te referee's whistle, City began dominating and picked up where they left off in pre season and within 7 mins, they drew first blood. A defensive mixed-up from the buffalo defence saw Airul sidefoot to the bottom corner to open his account for the season. An Acrobatic celebration silence Buffalos dugout. 2 mins later, his strike partner added to the tally. Charlie sends a wonderful cross to the far post to the unmarked Aizam who volley it first time to make the score 2-0 to the good.
Just as City was still celebrating, Buffalos pulled a goal back courtesy to a wonderful header by their striker who rose higher above City defence. 2-1. In the 17th min, Buffalos equalised. A long throw in was misjudge by City defence and their striker secured the goal with a simple flick over Safiuddin. 2-2.
City then pressed forward and with a stroke of luck, Aizam's low cross hits the arm of the Buffalos right back and referee Taufik awards City a penalty and waved away Buffalos protest. Up steps Charlie and he converts the penalty sending the goalie the wrong way. 3-2 City leads.
In the 26min, it was 4-2. Charlie again came with the goods when his long ball found Airul tussling for possession. The hotshot turns the defender and shoots past the despair goalie. 3 min later, Ruzaidi had a chance to put City further ahead but his chip to the empty net was well wide. 34min, City extend their lead. A back pass to Buffalo keeper was chased down by Aizam, the goalie's clearance fell short to Airul who makes a simple low shot to make the score 5-2.
Complacency began to creep in City's players and that is when a counter attack by Buffalo saw their midfiielder free lurking outside the area. The latter then scores with a neat place shot. A minute later, again Buffalo showed their arial prowness when their forward header was goalbound only for Afizan to clear off the line. Halftime score 5-3.
Second half,
Izzat HAshim lost possesion in the middle of the park and Buffalo attempt a long shot which hit the woodwork. In the 57th min, City extend the lead, Charlie long ball was mistimed by Buffalos defence, and Aizam chased down the bouncing ball, scored with a header pass the onrushing goalie but hurts himself in the process. 6-3 to City but goal celebrations were shortlived as City's coach cuts a look of concern over his striker.
Buffalo fighting spirit and City's complacency helps them reclaimed back to 2 goals in 3 minutes to make the score 6-5.
In the 68th min, Safiuddin long clearance to the opponent's half was a routine catch for opponents' keeper but however he mistimed the bounce and Airul capitalised to make the score 7-5 to City. That also proves the last kick for Safiuddin as he suffered a leg injury and had to be subtituted.
With that, Buffalo knows that with inexperience Eizzul in goal, they decided to attempt long shots, one which crept under the custodian to make the scoreline 7-6 in the 70min.
2 minutes later, City restore their 2 goal cushion when Aizam saw an unmarked Airul who places a shot past the goalie. And within a minute of the kickoff, Buffalo forward solo run cuts the lead to a goal after City defence were caught ball watching.
City held on to all 3 points.
Final score 8-7.
City coach commented, " Its great to see your team score 8 in our first season game but if you concede 7 then some things are needed to be brush. Well, we see some debutants who really shone in their positions today. I'm happy for the lads but its still a long way to go in the season. We are lucky to win today especially our opponents tody gave us a run for our money. I'm happy we secured 3 points today and my players know that they need to improve defensively. We could have won handsomely but some errors at the back make the scoreline more respectable and I know the players will want to prove on the next game at Meridian JC."
