Calamitous Start results in defeat for FC Phenom
Things got off to a disasterous start for FC Phenom during the friendly match at Bedok North Secondary School. The opponents drew first blood in the 1st minute, capitalising on our defence's hesitance. An inch perfect through ball to the left side of the box forced our Stand-in keeper, Mohamad Fadhil Fathlan to rush off the line. with a deft flick the opponent's winger hit a cross that found their forward who barged past left back, Surahdi Aliff Mohamed to tap the ball into our open goal. It got worse for FC Phenom as the opponents doubled the lead in the 3rd minute. this time another through ball was quickly dispatched by their forward with pin point accuracy.
Soo after, the nerves settled for FC Phenom as we brought more control and composure to the game. As the FC Phenom attackers, Eric Yap and Rahul Pratap Singh, continued to harrass the opponent's defenders, it was our defence that was in tatters as the Opponents, once again, broke our offside trap. This time, their striker beat our keeper in a one-on-one situation with a cheeky feint, sending our keeper the wrong direction before rolling the ball into goal on the 26th minute. And they completed the scoring in the first half with the assist from an uncharacteristic fumbled at the goal line by substitute keeper, Muhamad Hafidz Taib, as he dealt with a shot to his near post.
As the players walked off the pitch to rest during Half Time, the players seemed dejected as they just could not settle down into the rhythm of the game. After a pep talk from Captain, Suhairi Suhaimi and discussing how to approach the second half, the players return to the field with a glint of focus and aim in their eyes. It did not take long for words to translate to action as FC Phenom pulled a goal back in the 45th min as Rahul smashed the ball into the back off the net after good play between Azhar Shah, Suhairi Suhaimi and Eric Yap.
Though the Opponents scored their fifth goal, in the 55th minute, their attacks that were launch were thwarted by Centre backs Ang Thiam Foo and Shaun Lim as the backline grew more and more confident with each tackle and pass. As the rain rolled in, Rahul doubled his tally in the match with another shot from inside the box on the 68th minute. Moments later, he sent the ball in to the opponents goal for the third time. However, play was brought back when the referee judged that Rahul had been in an offside position when Suhairi Suhaimi centred the ball to 6-yard box.
Though it was a heavy defeat on the score board, the players were quick to higlight the positives learnt for this match in which playing and communicating as a solid and cohesive team would triumph over individual's talent. The hard running from James Soh, Surahdi Aliff Mohamed and Muhammad Raffy Rajis though unglamourous was pivotal for the rest of the team to press forward. It seemes that through the defeats from the past two weeks, FC Phenom have stepped forward a much matured team than before.
Prepared By:
Dharman Norms
Secretary, FC Phenom
