Last-gasp Goal Denies Mavericks of Famous Victory

Date: 1 March 2008

Location: Stade De Sembawang
Kick-off: 3pm
Opponents: Skopet FC

Starting line-up: Alex, Adrian, Jiun Wei, Chuan Ji, Clement, Randy, Kee Siang, Yusoff (Guest Player), Amir, Chao Xing, Faizy
Substitutes: Jerome Boon Kee, Chung Wei, Calvin

FT score: 1-1 (HT score: 0-0)
Goals: Amir ('71)
Assists: Yusoff
MOM: Yusoff


A last-gasp equaliser from Skopet FC dealt a huge blow to the Outsiders as they looked like they were going to hold on to their 1-0 lead at Stade de Sembawang this afternoon. The Mavericks faced a stern test against an in-form Skopet FC but the men in black managed to put up a brave fight which nearly paid dividends after winger Amir had put them in front.

With the home team missing several key players for the match, and from past statistics, the Outsiders were touted as the underdogs by bookmakers, with odds rising further to as high as 20-1 for a home win just minutes from kickoff. This was after Starsports reported that Ting Feng and Shahril, 2 of the 3 new players due to arrive at the club on loan, could not get their work permits' approval in time for the match and were therefore deemed ineligible to start this afternoon.

Despite earlier forecast by football critics, the match was far from a one-sided affair and could have gone either way. To the delight of the home crowd, it was the Outsiders who looked the more dangerous of the two in the opening exchanges, personified by the driving runs and through balls of another loan-signing Yusoff, who was reunited in the middle of the park with Kee Siang, forming their legendary YJC partnership way back in 2004. Adrian, who was missing in action for almost 8 months, made a grand comeback as a guest player as well.

Kee Siang, spotting a new orange hair-do, combined well with Yusoff, which eventually released Amir on the left. The winger managed to squeeze past the defence with a turn of pace, but his shot was thwarted by a superb save from the keeper. Boon Kee had a great chance to break the deadlock, when he headed in a corner from Kee Siang, only to see it land into the keeper's arms. Faizy and Chao Xing, who were playing as makeshift strikers, managed to cause problems with their blistering pace, but the solid Skopet FC defence held on.

Skopet FC threatened several times as well, but the centre-back pairing of Chuan Ji and Jiun Wei were not shy to make their presence felt. Alex, once again, in hot form, was more than a match in goal as the Outsiders held on.
Goalless at half time.

Second-half went underway and it was the men in blue who nearly took the lead, after a great strike from the striker, which was going in, until Alex made a stupendous diving save. Seriously a contender for "Best Save of the Season".
Randy and Clement were working hard on the flanks, as Skopet FC utilized their wingers to penetrate the defence. The defence held on, and against the run of play, Mavericks FC took the lead in the 71th minute.

Kee Siang got the hold of a loose ball and sets it up for Yusoff who leads an incisive break-away, getting past his marker, before releasing an inch-perfect slide-rule throughball to Amir, who had timed his run to perfection. He got past the full-back before slotting it past the keeper with a cool right-footed finish. Indeed, a goal reminiscent of the good ol' YJ days.

The Mavericks were in high-spirits, as attacking trio Calvin, Chung Wei and Boon Kee entered the fray, with their dogged determination nearly paying dividends, as Boon Kee was merely seconds away from getting a goal, only to see the keeper rush out in time to smother the ball.

However, it was not to be, as after a spell of intense pressure, Skopet FC got the equaliser after a goal-mouth scramble from a corner, which their goalkeeper, who had joined the attack, scored from. Time ticked away, and soon enough, referee Charles blew for the full-time whistle. It was indeed an entertaining match, and the Outsiders would have been disappointed not to be able to hold on to their lead.

F.T. score: 1-1. A just result that neither side can complain about.