A Good Fight

Final Score: ABN FC 1 Mavericks FC 3

Goals: Jake Chia ('1, '40), Chao Xing ('77)

Assists: Chao Xing, Kee Siang, Darran

MOM:  Khai

Stade de Ulu Marsiling - The Outsiders, eager to avenge the narrow league game defeat 2 weeks ago at the hands of the defending champions, fielded a star-studded side this day. Names like Chris, Khai, KeeKee the god, Barry, Chris.. were back in the lineup. Wait, there were 2 Chris-es?! Oh sorry because he plays so much like the younger Chris, the epitome of energy, power and aggression, while the older and more mature Chris is now more technical and can easily fill up the roles of the wings or centre back. Anyway, the "younger Chris" aka,  Ken Chow, I mean Joshua was a menace for the opposition today. The star of "Ah Boys to Men" was more than a pretty face, as he terrorised the right flank while older Chris was solid as stand-in for centre back.

Right in the first minute, capitalising on the poor passing by ABN FC, Chao Xing, who started on the left, took possession and played a simple through pass to Jake who coolly slotted in for the opening goal. The opponents seemed to have awoken from their slumber and piled on the attack for next quarter of an hour. However, it was the Outsiders who took advantage again. KeeKee, floated a freekick in from the right side off edge of the penalty box, that the gigantic Jake had no trouble putting his head to it to make it 2-0.

The Outsiders created a couple of chances in the second half, Victor's shot saved by the keeper within the 6 yard box, Chao Xing, now a striker, missed a volley for which he blames the bouncing ball. APN FC took advantage of the Outsiders' weakness in defending set-pieces and got 1 back from a header after their guy made a good cross from the corner. Apparently someone lost his man but shall not be named so as not to blemish his MOM. A couple of other good chances forced Varian, the stand-in custodian for Alex, to turn the shots around the post to keep the game in favour of Mavericks.

In midfield, the pairing of Barry (later KeeKee) and Khai broke up attacks after attacks and stringed many good passes to the wings time and again. It would seem that Mavericks will hold on to the lead or maybe grab one more goal. But APN FC will not allow that to happen as the Outsiders wished, as they upped their aggression levels from "NORMAL" to "HARD". Lol.  

Chao Xing, the villain again this time round, missed the chance to kill the game, as he got a good pass, made 2 defenders clash into each other in the penalty box but simply hesitated before losing the ball. Not long after, Ah Boy "Ken Chow", I mean Joshua, was involved in a heavy challenge and got so heated up that he almost threw a punch at the opponent, which almost resulted in a brawl. Ah well, we were all ah boys ourselves before too. As chairman Jiun Wei later commented, "Well I once threw a punch and received 3 back. It's not worth it at all to fight on the pitch." Wise words indeed from the astute businessman. The moral of the story is, "Don't fight unless you are sure to get something out of it"?

Minutes past, an excellent pass down the right flank by Khai found Darran through who then crossed in low, and a Chicarito-style left-footed drive met the cross first time and had the ball flying into the top right corner. Yes, it was him, the poacher of recent games, who finally redeemed the bloopers earlier.

A good win and most importantly a morale booster for the next league game. As usual, defence with Seng Yew and Jiun Wei was good. So was Sar, who was almost the MOM today if Khai had not played. Let's build on this and do even better in the coming games.