Mavericks End Unbeaten Streak
Date: 29 December 2007
Location: Fernvale Pitch (Jalan Kayu area)
Kick-off: 9am
Opponents: Premier FC
Starting line-up: Alex, Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Mike, Clement, Chao Xing, Amir, Seng Yew, Wei Jie, Chung Wei, Tommy
Substitutes: Fuad, Wei Long, Randy, Zhi Fei
FT score: 1-3 (HT score: 0-1)
Goals: Amir ('88)
Assists: Zhi Fei
Mavericks FC ended their recent unbeaten run with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Premier FC. Two defensive errors proved costly at the end of the day, as Team Mavericks, who were having their debut in the new all-black strip, failed to mount a serious stranglehold of the match. However, there was one highlight at the end of this low-key affair for the Outsiders, through a stunning acrobatic scissors-kick volleyed goal from the in-form flamboyant winger Amir.
The pitch was predictable by standards, as the monsoon season had taken a toll on the pitch, giving an arid yet muddy playing surface, which proved a disservice for either side, especially in the middle of the pitch. Both teams struggled to find a rhythm early on as they had to adapt to the almost unplayable centre of the pitch which looked like Superman had spilled his seeds of steel and bore holes into the ground. This was further worsened by the late-arriving referee who couldn't understand the word "punctual" as it was a foreign word to him. Literally. Since he couldn't speak English and all.
Anyway, Premier FC had the better possession of the ball as the Mavericks engine room seemed to have run dry for the majority of the match. The absence of midfield general Kee Siang and midfield maestro Boon Leng proved the deciding factor to the Outsider's defeat, as the midfield could not contain the efficient Premier FC midfield line-up. Premier FC took the lead after a cross from a corner took a ridiculous bounce, due to the torrid pitch conditions and bounced away from custodian Alex's grasp and landed into the net. Mavericks had a few half-chances, through shots by Zhi Fei, Wei Long and Tommy. The closest chance they got was a great individual effort from skillful winger Amir, who tore past the left flank of the Premier FC before eventually thwarted with a last-ditch clearing tackle by the centre-back as he was about to place his shot.
The second-half was a drab affair, as both teams could not maintain possession of the ball. However, a wrong tactical change by the Mavericks turned the game around, as their switching from a standard 4-4-2 formation into a more open 4-3-3 backfired, as Premier FC got two quickfire goals in succession. The first was a squared ball into the area which was tucked away into the net by the striker while the second one was due to a defensive mix-up in the Mavericks backline, that lead to the striker having an open goal to tap it home. Mavericks had a few tries at goal as they looked to find a means to get their game back on track, with Fuad and Seng Yew trying their luck at the other end. However, the game seem to drag further and further away from the men in black as the game wore on.
However, they managed to get a consolation goal right at the death through winger Amir. A simply sublime one at that too. Chung Wei and the Premier FC leftback were tussling for the ball before the ball fell loose, and reached the feet of Zhi Fei. He bore down the right side of the attacking half, before having a quick glance, and spotted the late run of Amir into the box. He flighted in an inch-perfect ball into the box and in a stupendous moment of brilliance, Amir got airborne, with both of his legs mid-air, and let rip a stunning acrobatic scissors-volley that went into the roof of the net, giving the keeper no chance (Not even Gianluigi Buffon had much of a chance either). A breathtaking goal indeed, although it didn't have much significance as straightaway after the restart, the referee, from Wu Xi Province in China, blew for full-time. Final Score 1-3.
Location: Fernvale Pitch (Jalan Kayu area)
Kick-off: 9am
Opponents: Premier FC
Starting line-up: Alex, Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Mike, Clement, Chao Xing, Amir, Seng Yew, Wei Jie, Chung Wei, Tommy
Substitutes: Fuad, Wei Long, Randy, Zhi Fei
FT score: 1-3 (HT score: 0-1)
Goals: Amir ('88)
Assists: Zhi Fei
Mavericks FC ended their recent unbeaten run with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Premier FC. Two defensive errors proved costly at the end of the day, as Team Mavericks, who were having their debut in the new all-black strip, failed to mount a serious stranglehold of the match. However, there was one highlight at the end of this low-key affair for the Outsiders, through a stunning acrobatic scissors-kick volleyed goal from the in-form flamboyant winger Amir.
The pitch was predictable by standards, as the monsoon season had taken a toll on the pitch, giving an arid yet muddy playing surface, which proved a disservice for either side, especially in the middle of the pitch. Both teams struggled to find a rhythm early on as they had to adapt to the almost unplayable centre of the pitch which looked like Superman had spilled his seeds of steel and bore holes into the ground. This was further worsened by the late-arriving referee who couldn't understand the word "punctual" as it was a foreign word to him. Literally. Since he couldn't speak English and all.
Anyway, Premier FC had the better possession of the ball as the Mavericks engine room seemed to have run dry for the majority of the match. The absence of midfield general Kee Siang and midfield maestro Boon Leng proved the deciding factor to the Outsider's defeat, as the midfield could not contain the efficient Premier FC midfield line-up. Premier FC took the lead after a cross from a corner took a ridiculous bounce, due to the torrid pitch conditions and bounced away from custodian Alex's grasp and landed into the net. Mavericks had a few half-chances, through shots by Zhi Fei, Wei Long and Tommy. The closest chance they got was a great individual effort from skillful winger Amir, who tore past the left flank of the Premier FC before eventually thwarted with a last-ditch clearing tackle by the centre-back as he was about to place his shot.
The second-half was a drab affair, as both teams could not maintain possession of the ball. However, a wrong tactical change by the Mavericks turned the game around, as their switching from a standard 4-4-2 formation into a more open 4-3-3 backfired, as Premier FC got two quickfire goals in succession. The first was a squared ball into the area which was tucked away into the net by the striker while the second one was due to a defensive mix-up in the Mavericks backline, that lead to the striker having an open goal to tap it home. Mavericks had a few tries at goal as they looked to find a means to get their game back on track, with Fuad and Seng Yew trying their luck at the other end. However, the game seem to drag further and further away from the men in black as the game wore on.
However, they managed to get a consolation goal right at the death through winger Amir. A simply sublime one at that too. Chung Wei and the Premier FC leftback were tussling for the ball before the ball fell loose, and reached the feet of Zhi Fei. He bore down the right side of the attacking half, before having a quick glance, and spotted the late run of Amir into the box. He flighted in an inch-perfect ball into the box and in a stupendous moment of brilliance, Amir got airborne, with both of his legs mid-air, and let rip a stunning acrobatic scissors-volley that went into the roof of the net, giving the keeper no chance (Not even Gianluigi Buffon had much of a chance either). A breathtaking goal indeed, although it didn't have much significance as straightaway after the restart, the referee, from Wu Xi Province in China, blew for full-time. Final Score 1-3.
posted by The Outsider at
2:29 PM
