Early Scare Turning Into a Wake-up Call

Final Score: Coca Cola FC 1 Mavericks FC 5

Goals: Victor, Jake Chia, Kee Siang, Desmond, Khai

Assists: Khai x2, Chris

MOM:  Khai

Stade de Commowealth - Long overdue was the victory that tasted even sweeter when not only the Outsiders suffered straight defeats in past league games, they fought back from 1-0 down thanks to a quick counter-attack by Coca Cola early in the first half. While the early thunder showers threatened to cancel the match, it was a calm latecomer Sar who saved the day with a message from the organisers.

Some pundits were predicting an easy game for Mavericks but Coca Cola looked aggressive and did not seem to give up the points as easily as the statistics say. Some sliding and hard tackling took down many feet but the Outsiders survived the onslaught and dominated the game. However, after losing possession in the opposing box in what could have been a real chance for Mavericks to take the lead, Coca Cola turned the tides on the sleeping Outsiders. One defender fires a long ball into the unsuspecting Mavericks defence and the striker did his job with a delicate chip over the out-rushing Alex. Mavericks, aroused and hungry by now, piled on the attack, making direct passes through the flanks and tormenting the Coca Cola defence, although the new creative play was limited by the small and waterlogged pitch and the aggression of the defenders. 

As Darran shot into the side-netting from the right flank just minutes earlier, Victor showed the world the difference between between a natural striker and a right-flanked forward as he let loose a low grounder from the same area and into the gap that the keeper left open. Yet there was little celebration, as Khai quickly shouted, "WE DIDN'T COME HERE FOR A DRAW!" Straight-after, Victor and Chao Xing were pairing up in torturing the Coca Cola defence as they ran around tirelessly across the back 4. A few good crosses from Darran ended up in vain, as the strikers were unable to shake loose of the the sticky defenders. The best chance came when Chao Xing came in to meet Darran's cross first time but under challenge, take a shot with his knee that flew harmlessly off the bottom right post. He blooped again soon after after being set on a through ball by Matthew from the left edge of the box as his left-footed strike whizzed into the side netting. 

Jake Chia, eager to score a goal on a match so important, got his wish as he did a clearance from defence which the keeper fumbled into the net. Rumours were that the approaching Chao Xing (who had been running at him a few times after some backpasses from his defenders) prevented him from punching the ball to safety that caused the mistake. But nevertheless, the credit was Jake's accurate clearance. 2-1 at halftime. 

Kee Siang, in the second half, was paired up with Desmond, to create a very strong attacking force to kill any chances for Coca Cola to come back into the game. Having taken a break from soccer due to injury, there were fears that Kee Siang is no longer the player he used to be. But alas, he proved otherwise by scoring with his head at his very first touch. The scenario leading up to the legendary goal is as narrated by Victor later on, "Kee siang's goal was assisted by Khai la. Khai took the free kick quickly when he spotted our players were inside the box - The ball flew in with a beautiful curve."

Matthew continued to be brilliant on the left, leading attacks after attacks but it was Desmond who stole the limelight later on as he took the ball, dribbled into the box, pulled the ball back, rounded 2 defenders, and tapped in a low shot that the keeper had no chance at all. Simply brilliant and what's better is that he has pledged himself to commit for the rest of the fightback season. 

And last but not least, Mavericks rounded up the game with a Khai solo effort. No one saw what happened. It simply happened. Just like lightning. When it happened, we asked, 

"What just happened?" 

"We got a goal."

"Who?"

"Khai." 

And the game became uneventful for 20 minutes after. 

A point to take note from this game. We are not winning enough headers as some of the players were not challenging enough for high balls. When a high ball came, it was observed that they stood a metre away from the jumping opponent and simply looked. 

Sidenote: A sense of deja vu and an emotional return to the Alma Mater for CX as the compound once belonged to River Valley High School. The familiar smells of the Gardenia bread if you ran around the Pandan reservoir, ahh the place he spent his first 4 years of his life as a toddler and then another 4 years of his adolescence, the Teban Gardens... And not scoring on this day, especially after wasting 2 good chances, added more woes to his current goal drought.