Jurong West, Singapore
Chestercity takes on a veteran team, West Eminence on a sunny Hua Yi Secondary School pitch. An 11am kickoff was not help when the match referee did not turn up for the game. The committee had a replacement and both teams decide to carry on with the match.
City started the match with few players pulling out due to illness such as Stanton, Eizzul and Xavier. Jelson was still nursing an injury while Afizan, Izzat Hashim, Aizam and Azhar pulls out due to call up duty and work respectively. City also had 3 players like Ruzaidi, Tushig and Bazil who quitted the club.
In all, City had only Irfan as substitute and the coach named himself on the bench. City’s coach plays a 4-4-2 formation with Safiuddin in goal, Zaini was a makeshift right back, Sufiyan partners Syafiq in central and Syaikhan was at left back. Right wing was Herman, Charlie takes centre stage with Faizal and Nurhadi makes his first start on the left wing. Alang who has 2 goals under his belt partners Airul in attack.
Both teams started off cautiously and within 7th min of the match, Charlie receives the ball from opponent’s clearance, he then unleashed a screamer from 20 yards out giving Eminence’s goalkeeper no chance. 1-0 to the good.
5mins later it was 2-0. The “double A batteries” partnership prove to be one to watch. Alang received the ball on the left, evades few tackles before squaring it to Airul who scores with his weaker left foot. City then tries to add a third. Faizal through ball found the galloping Hadi who shoots wide of the goal.
In the 16th min, Airul had a chance which goes begging when he saw he shot deflected off a but was denied by the woodwork. 2mins later, Eminence pull a goal back. Awarded a freekick just outside the penalty box, Eminence scored after the freekick deflected off City’s wall and past Safiuddin to make the score 2-1. Alang was mesmerizing the defence on the left and after a great work and silky skills, he found Airul who had his shot deflected for a corner. Last kick of the game, West Eminence’s number 9, Razip breaks the offside trap nicks it past Safiuddin and with the goal open, he somehow place his shot to the bottom of the post. The West Eminence dugout had their hands on their heads. Half-time stays at 2-1.
Second half,
Both teams crumbled under the heat, give away cheap possession in the third half. On the 47th min, Coach Ridwan enters the fray replacing Herman, he then switch sides with Hadi who takes the right mid position. A min later, Alang shot hits the post. City threaten, Alang again had his shot saved and the loose ball was chased down by both Eminence’s goalie and Airul, Airul gets to the ball first shoots a rabona-like shot but was parried away by the goalkeeper. Good effort. Then coach Ridwan take matters into his own hands, receiving the ball in the attacking half, he lays to the feet of Airul who then pass it to Alang, Ridwan continues he advance towards goal and a slight chip by Alang found him, he shoots past the onrushing goalie but his shot went inches wide. City’s coach and Eminence goalie injured in the clash. It was a studs up challenge from the goalkeeper. In the 63rd min, the post came to Eminence rescue this time denying Airul. Eminence drew level at the other corner, Sufiyan misjudge a lob through ball and Eminence player slotted it past Safiuddin to make it 2-2. The referee then disallowed Alang goal for offside in the 65th minute. With both teams looking for the winning goal, Alang rose to the occasion when Airul picks him up, plays a one-two turns the goalie and scored into the empty net. 3-2.
That’s how the match ended.
City coach commented after the game, “It was an early good start for the team, yet again we concede after taking the lead. The players showed great fighting spirit and did not want to lose today. Against a team like Eminence, we can only overcome them with pace but they have more experience and maturity on the pitch. It’s a hard fought match in the end the 3 points what matters most to City. TGA Buffalos won their match against Avalanche and that puts more pressure against us as they are behind us by just 3 points and with a game in hand. This looks like a 2 horse race at the moment but I do not want to underestimate teams like Teban, Vietnam who has the chance to pip any of the top 2. Getting 3 points today was special especially we had only 13 players available. There are a few tired legs out there today but we prevail and we did our best to have it in the bag.”
