Hello Panda No More!

Season 2012 - League Match 7  -   28 July 2012

Final Score: Sporting Pandas FC 1 Mavericks FC 2

Goals: Vic ('53), Amir ('67 pen)

Assists: =)

MOM: Barry

Edgedale Plains, Greendale  Pitch, Punggol - Mavericks FC overcame a lacklustre first-half to nail the Pandas in a hard-fought match. A truly, superb work ethic, and a magnificent collective team effort brought home all 3 points for the Outsiders, in a spectacular clash on a cloudy Saturday afternoon.

The Pandas had maintained a stranglehold over the Outsiders in a first half which went all wrong for the men in red, as they conceded a goal in the early proceedings of the match, much to the chagrin of the local Pandas FC fans. 

These fans, whose great grandfathers arrived from the shady province of Shenzhen in China and emigrated to Punggol in the late 80's, came down to support their beloved "愉快熊猫" football club, spoken in their local tongues. 

To the rest of the world, they are known as Sporting Pandas FC. And this was a match the Pandas simply had to win, and to ensure their fans went home happy.

At the end of the first half, the match looked to be slipping away from Mavericks FC's grasp, and there was a dire need for a tactical reshuffle at the break, as they barely survived the Panda onslaught in the opening 45 minutes.

After a lengthy team-talk and some tactical changes from Manager Jake, Vic and the awesome Barry, as well as a cameo from Confucius himself as he came down and gave out some inspirational words of wisdom.

Mavericks FC started the second half slowly, and took their time, as they changed their approach to the game. 

With Confucius' quote ringing in their ears, "It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop", the team's luck began to change, and they got the crucial equaliser.

After a spell of pressure in the Panda FC half, a loose ball was picked up by Vic, and he skipped past one before unleashing a simply sublime lob over the keeper into the top right corner of the net from 35 yards out! Magnifique! 1-1.

Barry was truly inspirational in midfield, with Boon Leng, the defensive condom, stopping play from deep, Mavericks FC were looking good. With a better share of possession now, the Outsiders stepped up a gear, and took the deserved lead.

Amir got hold of the ball in the middle of the pitch, before embarking on a blistering run which he ended up falling down in the box, (after a couple of soft challenges by the Pandas defenders), and the Chinaman Referee blew his whistle for a penalty!

I guess he doesn't like Pandas since Pandas like to eat bamboo, and the ref looks like a piece of yellow bamboo also LOLOLOL. Not funny. Up stepped Amir, who has a great record of missing penalties, but this time he scored! Yay! 2-1.

Mavericks FC held on well, as they soaked in the pressure as now, they were on the backfoot for the remaining ten minutes as the Pandas searched for their equaliser. 

However,  the two centrebacks, Guo Xiang and he, of powerful thunder balls of steel (and sp*rm), Chairman Jiunwei, marshalled the backline superbly.

With sheer grit, and great team effort from everyone, from the strikers Victor and Jerome to the wingers Wei Lian and Matthew to the defence and keeper Alex, the Outsiders held on well, and nailed this hardcore, hard-fought victory.

Onwards and upwards Mavericks FC! If we win our next two matches, we are guaranteed a promotion spot into Div 1 for next season!

Mavericks Hwaiting!