Mavericks Record First Home Loss
Date: 5 January 2008
Location: Stade de Sembawang
Kick-off: 3pm
Opponents: S-Team FC
Starting line-up: Alex, Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Faizy, Clement, Chao Xing, Amir, Kee Siang, Chung Wei, Wei Long, Zhi Fei
Substitutes: Fuad, Seng Yew, Wei Jie, Randy, Jerome Boon Kee
FT score: 3-4 (HT score: 1-1)
Goals: Kee Siang ('23), Seng Yew ('68), Zhi Fei ('87)
Assists: Amir (2)
Mavericks FC kicked off the new year with the worst possible start, losing their unbeaten home record in a 3-4 defeat to S-Team. The roller coaster nature of the game was matched by the equally bizzare pattern of rain, which greeted both teams since the first whistle was blown.
Despite a virtually full strength squad fielded by the Mavericks, apart from the absence of midfield enforcer Boon Leng and defensive stalwart Mike, the S-Team more than matched the hosts, playing a physical direct brand of football.
The first sign of directness was indicated by the S-Team straight from kick-off. Upon receiving the ball from the first touch and still inside the center circle, the ambitious striker smashed a hopeful shot goalwards. However, the ball ended up almost striking off the corner flag.
Both teams had their fair share of possession in the following early exchanges, and from an incisive counter attack, Mavericks FC took the lead. A loose ball was cleared out of defence by the impressive Clement, filling in almost seamlessly in the central of defence, and reached the feet of Amir. The wing wizard took the ball into opposition territory and surged past three bewildered S-Team defenders down the left flank, before showing tremendous awareness to lay the ball on a platter for the on-rushing Kee Siang, who made no mistake with his finish from near the six-yard box.
Inspired by the opening goal, Mavericks FC went in search of a second. A delightful chip into space down the right flank by the effervescent Jiun Wei was collected by Jerome, who charged past his marker into the penalty box. From a tight angle, the forward crashed his shot against the upright, when perhaps a cross into the area for the unmarked Wei Long would have been a better option.
The miss proved costly as despite resolute defending by the home team, they could not take the lead into half-time. Another long hopeful punt into the penalty box from the S-Team finally paid dividends during stoppage time, with a tall lurking figure in blue climbing the highest and sending a downward header bouncing off the slippery turf and creeping into the bottom corner of the net, with goalie Alex centimetres from getting fingertips to the ball. Thus, it was 1-1 at half-time, with two S-Team players already booked, one of which was for a blatant two-footed foul on Amir by their No.9, which left him in some discomfort and destroyed his Nike Total 90 boots.
Mavericks FC re-grouped during half-time and sent out a more attacking team for the second half. However, this left gaps exposed at the back with the S-Team's new January transfer window sigining, their No.12, bull-dozing past a defence that struggled to cope with his lightning pace and brute strength, on several occasions. While some last-ditch tackling by inspirational skipper Chao Xing and Chuan Ji did manage to nick the ball off the striker at critical timings, on two occasions, he was left one-on-one with Alex and showed his classy finishing, scoring both of them.
Down 3-1, the hosts displayed tremendous fighting spirit to bring back the contest at 3-2. From a free kick awarded some 30 yards from goal, dead-ball specialist Seng Yew sent an absolute screamer into the top right corner of the net, going in off the post.
Sensing an opportunity to fight back, Mavericks FC chased the game with some passion, leading to Jerome and team captain Chao Xing being shown the yellow card. Firstly, the S-Team goalie showed some tricks up his sleeve when he collapsed like a sack of potatoes upon being "kneed in the face" by Jerome, while the two contested for a delivery from a corner. Not to be outdone, the S-Team No.10 leaped onto wet grass, from an innocuous-looking challenge by Chao Xing.
Route One football was on show again, as this time a high ball was flicked on into the path of the S-Team No.12, who managed to squeeze past two Mavericks centre backs before firing his shot past a stranded Alex.
False hopes were raised towards the end of the match, with goal-scoring machine Zhi Fei, receiving another superb pass from Amir, letting fly a thunderbolt effort from 25 yards out, which went in off the keeper.
From then onwards, S-Team defended in numbers and continued the brilliant tactic of time wasting till the final whistle. Now the question in the mind of every Mavericks player...when will they taste their first victory in their new black jersey?
Location: Stade de Sembawang
Kick-off: 3pm
Opponents: S-Team FC
Starting line-up: Alex, Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Faizy, Clement, Chao Xing, Amir, Kee Siang, Chung Wei, Wei Long, Zhi Fei
Substitutes: Fuad, Seng Yew, Wei Jie, Randy, Jerome Boon Kee
FT score: 3-4 (HT score: 1-1)
Goals: Kee Siang ('23), Seng Yew ('68), Zhi Fei ('87)
Assists: Amir (2)
Mavericks FC kicked off the new year with the worst possible start, losing their unbeaten home record in a 3-4 defeat to S-Team. The roller coaster nature of the game was matched by the equally bizzare pattern of rain, which greeted both teams since the first whistle was blown.
Despite a virtually full strength squad fielded by the Mavericks, apart from the absence of midfield enforcer Boon Leng and defensive stalwart Mike, the S-Team more than matched the hosts, playing a physical direct brand of football.
The first sign of directness was indicated by the S-Team straight from kick-off. Upon receiving the ball from the first touch and still inside the center circle, the ambitious striker smashed a hopeful shot goalwards. However, the ball ended up almost striking off the corner flag.
Both teams had their fair share of possession in the following early exchanges, and from an incisive counter attack, Mavericks FC took the lead. A loose ball was cleared out of defence by the impressive Clement, filling in almost seamlessly in the central of defence, and reached the feet of Amir. The wing wizard took the ball into opposition territory and surged past three bewildered S-Team defenders down the left flank, before showing tremendous awareness to lay the ball on a platter for the on-rushing Kee Siang, who made no mistake with his finish from near the six-yard box.
Inspired by the opening goal, Mavericks FC went in search of a second. A delightful chip into space down the right flank by the effervescent Jiun Wei was collected by Jerome, who charged past his marker into the penalty box. From a tight angle, the forward crashed his shot against the upright, when perhaps a cross into the area for the unmarked Wei Long would have been a better option.
The miss proved costly as despite resolute defending by the home team, they could not take the lead into half-time. Another long hopeful punt into the penalty box from the S-Team finally paid dividends during stoppage time, with a tall lurking figure in blue climbing the highest and sending a downward header bouncing off the slippery turf and creeping into the bottom corner of the net, with goalie Alex centimetres from getting fingertips to the ball. Thus, it was 1-1 at half-time, with two S-Team players already booked, one of which was for a blatant two-footed foul on Amir by their No.9, which left him in some discomfort and destroyed his Nike Total 90 boots.
Mavericks FC re-grouped during half-time and sent out a more attacking team for the second half. However, this left gaps exposed at the back with the S-Team's new January transfer window sigining, their No.12, bull-dozing past a defence that struggled to cope with his lightning pace and brute strength, on several occasions. While some last-ditch tackling by inspirational skipper Chao Xing and Chuan Ji did manage to nick the ball off the striker at critical timings, on two occasions, he was left one-on-one with Alex and showed his classy finishing, scoring both of them.
Down 3-1, the hosts displayed tremendous fighting spirit to bring back the contest at 3-2. From a free kick awarded some 30 yards from goal, dead-ball specialist Seng Yew sent an absolute screamer into the top right corner of the net, going in off the post.
Sensing an opportunity to fight back, Mavericks FC chased the game with some passion, leading to Jerome and team captain Chao Xing being shown the yellow card. Firstly, the S-Team goalie showed some tricks up his sleeve when he collapsed like a sack of potatoes upon being "kneed in the face" by Jerome, while the two contested for a delivery from a corner. Not to be outdone, the S-Team No.10 leaped onto wet grass, from an innocuous-looking challenge by Chao Xing.
Route One football was on show again, as this time a high ball was flicked on into the path of the S-Team No.12, who managed to squeeze past two Mavericks centre backs before firing his shot past a stranded Alex.
False hopes were raised towards the end of the match, with goal-scoring machine Zhi Fei, receiving another superb pass from Amir, letting fly a thunderbolt effort from 25 yards out, which went in off the keeper.
From then onwards, S-Team defended in numbers and continued the brilliant tactic of time wasting till the final whistle. Now the question in the mind of every Mavericks player...when will they taste their first victory in their new black jersey?
posted by The Outsider at
9:50 PM
