Mavericks Cruise in Away Win
Date: 22 December 2007
Location: Singapore Chinese Recreational Club
Kick-off: 9am
Opponents: Balooku United
Starting line-up: Alex, Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Mike, Clement, Chao Xing, Amir, Seng Yew, Kee Siang, Fuad, Zhi Fei
Substitutes: Chung Wei, Boon Kee Jerome, Wei Long, Randy
FT score: 3-0 (HT score: 1-0)
Goals: Amir ('43), Fuad ('70), Zhi Fei ('88)
Assists: Amir
Clean Sheet Assists: Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Mike, Clement
Man-Of-Match: Mike
The Outsiders notched a comfortable win today against Balooku United. Continued torrential weather in the past few weeks leading up to matchday has ensured that ground conditions were at their worst. Yet despite the negatives, Team Mavericks celebrate the fact that injured Mavericks player Calvin was seen in the stands cheering for his teammates in unison with the supporters.
The players were seen entering the pitch with tentative strides after seeing the playing conditions. However, being the professionals they were, they took it in their stride and got on with their job. Without much further ado, referee Charles called for the early morning kickoff.
Throughout the first half the Mavericks had the better percentage of possession while the Balookutians sought to catch the Outsiders on the break. Players from both sides were frustrated by the mud, which was a hindrance to the movement of the passing of both teams. Play was kept to scrappy dogfights in the midfield. Nevertheless, the central midfielders Seng Yew and Kee Siang showed tremendous determination and grit, fighting for every ball and giving no quarters. Their tireless running, together with Jiunwei and Chao Xing’s hustling on the right flank, allowed the attack to test the Balooku defence time and again. Chung Wei's fiery determination earned plaudits as well, as he ran the Balooku full-backs ragged.
Amir led the swashbuckling attacking play, which resulted in three shots on target that would have trickled in if not for the muddy pitch’s suction. In the 39th minute Amir once again came close to opening the scoring, glancing in a rare header from Zhi Fei’s excellent cross, only to be denied by the wood work.
There was an air of assurance about the defence today. A quick fan poll attributed it to minimal tinkering of the Mavericks’ backline, resulting in a more settled unit. Despite the improved performance, the opposing team offered brief spurts of pressure that tested the defenders’ concentration. Twice, custodian ‘keeper Alex was forced to come off his line to sweep away loose balls that managed to elude centre backs Chuan Ji and Mike. The Outsiders almost paid for a lack of concentration but Alex was there to make a brave save that almost had him stretchered off. The physio arrived with some magic sponge and after a few moments he was up and running again.
Finally, in the 43th minute the opposing team’s defence buckled and Amir managed to squeeze in a shot at the near post with his left foot after a good run.
The start of the second half saw the Mavericks facing tremendous pressure from team Balooku but they managed to hold on to their one goal lead due to some committed defending, luck and mud. The centre-backs decided to play a high line to keep the pressure in the opposing half, keeping Balooku United's star playmaker Gabriel in check, without giving him much room to exploit. It worked brilliantly with some well executed offside traps that neutralised the now furiously annoyed Balooku strikers.
In what was always going to be the talking point of the match, the left winger Desmond a.k.a Gonzales from team Balooku took a tumble in the penalty box following tight marking from Mike. All eyes were on the referee as he blew the whistle. He walked dramatically to the penalty area slowly and showed the Gonzales the yellow card for diving. The relief the Outsiders felt was there for all to see. In the 63rd minute, another incisive break from team Balooku resulted in a somewhat similar situation. However, the referee waved play on yet again. The turning point in the match came as the Mavericks soon found their passing momentum.
A powerful drive from Zhifei was just whiskers away from the top left hand corner of net. Then, Fuad added to the scoreline in the 70th minute with a cool finish following a goal mouth scramble, as he let fly a thunderous shot which the keeper could only parry into the net. 2-0. The pressure finally paid off as two minutes before time, the Mavericks secured the game after Zhifei scored with a sublime heel-flick following good work on the left flank from Fuad, Boon Kee and Amir, who squared a timely cross-shot into the box into Zhi Fei's path. With sheer technique, the striker directs his shot into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-0.
Despite the comfortable looking result, the match was far from being comfortably played. Team Mavericks faced stiff competition against the Spartan-like defence of Balooku United, without forgetting the fact that mud was hindering the fluidity of the whole game. The whole team returned with some satisfaction and distaste over a rare 3rd clean sheet of the season that was achieved through a muddy experience and a stingy defensive line-up. The Mavericks were supposed to start the game in their new all black Adidas kits, only to be forced to wear their usual white due to unforeseen circumstances. Nevertheless, they got their jerseys black anyway at the end of the game, after playing in such torrid conditions, which led to the media labelling the field as a "Pig's Heaven".
Certainly, indeed.
Location: Singapore Chinese Recreational Club
Kick-off: 9am
Opponents: Balooku United
Starting line-up: Alex, Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Mike, Clement, Chao Xing, Amir, Seng Yew, Kee Siang, Fuad, Zhi Fei
Substitutes: Chung Wei, Boon Kee Jerome, Wei Long, Randy
FT score: 3-0 (HT score: 1-0)
Goals: Amir ('43), Fuad ('70), Zhi Fei ('88)
Assists: Amir
Clean Sheet Assists: Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Mike, Clement
Man-Of-Match: Mike
The Outsiders notched a comfortable win today against Balooku United. Continued torrential weather in the past few weeks leading up to matchday has ensured that ground conditions were at their worst. Yet despite the negatives, Team Mavericks celebrate the fact that injured Mavericks player Calvin was seen in the stands cheering for his teammates in unison with the supporters.
The players were seen entering the pitch with tentative strides after seeing the playing conditions. However, being the professionals they were, they took it in their stride and got on with their job. Without much further ado, referee Charles called for the early morning kickoff.
Throughout the first half the Mavericks had the better percentage of possession while the Balookutians sought to catch the Outsiders on the break. Players from both sides were frustrated by the mud, which was a hindrance to the movement of the passing of both teams. Play was kept to scrappy dogfights in the midfield. Nevertheless, the central midfielders Seng Yew and Kee Siang showed tremendous determination and grit, fighting for every ball and giving no quarters. Their tireless running, together with Jiunwei and Chao Xing’s hustling on the right flank, allowed the attack to test the Balooku defence time and again. Chung Wei's fiery determination earned plaudits as well, as he ran the Balooku full-backs ragged.
Amir led the swashbuckling attacking play, which resulted in three shots on target that would have trickled in if not for the muddy pitch’s suction. In the 39th minute Amir once again came close to opening the scoring, glancing in a rare header from Zhi Fei’s excellent cross, only to be denied by the wood work.
There was an air of assurance about the defence today. A quick fan poll attributed it to minimal tinkering of the Mavericks’ backline, resulting in a more settled unit. Despite the improved performance, the opposing team offered brief spurts of pressure that tested the defenders’ concentration. Twice, custodian ‘keeper Alex was forced to come off his line to sweep away loose balls that managed to elude centre backs Chuan Ji and Mike. The Outsiders almost paid for a lack of concentration but Alex was there to make a brave save that almost had him stretchered off. The physio arrived with some magic sponge and after a few moments he was up and running again.
Finally, in the 43th minute the opposing team’s defence buckled and Amir managed to squeeze in a shot at the near post with his left foot after a good run.
The start of the second half saw the Mavericks facing tremendous pressure from team Balooku but they managed to hold on to their one goal lead due to some committed defending, luck and mud. The centre-backs decided to play a high line to keep the pressure in the opposing half, keeping Balooku United's star playmaker Gabriel in check, without giving him much room to exploit. It worked brilliantly with some well executed offside traps that neutralised the now furiously annoyed Balooku strikers.
In what was always going to be the talking point of the match, the left winger Desmond a.k.a Gonzales from team Balooku took a tumble in the penalty box following tight marking from Mike. All eyes were on the referee as he blew the whistle. He walked dramatically to the penalty area slowly and showed the Gonzales the yellow card for diving. The relief the Outsiders felt was there for all to see. In the 63rd minute, another incisive break from team Balooku resulted in a somewhat similar situation. However, the referee waved play on yet again. The turning point in the match came as the Mavericks soon found their passing momentum.
A powerful drive from Zhifei was just whiskers away from the top left hand corner of net. Then, Fuad added to the scoreline in the 70th minute with a cool finish following a goal mouth scramble, as he let fly a thunderous shot which the keeper could only parry into the net. 2-0. The pressure finally paid off as two minutes before time, the Mavericks secured the game after Zhifei scored with a sublime heel-flick following good work on the left flank from Fuad, Boon Kee and Amir, who squared a timely cross-shot into the box into Zhi Fei's path. With sheer technique, the striker directs his shot into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-0.
Despite the comfortable looking result, the match was far from being comfortably played. Team Mavericks faced stiff competition against the Spartan-like defence of Balooku United, without forgetting the fact that mud was hindering the fluidity of the whole game. The whole team returned with some satisfaction and distaste over a rare 3rd clean sheet of the season that was achieved through a muddy experience and a stingy defensive line-up. The Mavericks were supposed to start the game in their new all black Adidas kits, only to be forced to wear their usual white due to unforeseen circumstances. Nevertheless, they got their jerseys black anyway at the end of the game, after playing in such torrid conditions, which led to the media labelling the field as a "Pig's Heaven".
Certainly, indeed.
posted by The Outsider at
8:49 PM
