PMC 11-a-side Invitational League: PMC vs AMC (28th August)

The inaugural PMC 11-a-side Invitational League kicked off on Sunday 28th August with PMC playing their 1st home match against AMC. The league has been organised by AMC, CMC, PMC and RLC to keep their competitive soccer teams fresh during the off-season, with the early completion of this year's Agape Cup. The Invitational League would be positioned as a series of home and away friendlies, instead of a full-blooded competition. Each team would play 6 matches (3 home and 3 away) till end of October, and the League will end with a prize-giving dinner hosted at PMC.

The first match of the League was blessed with very good weather. Kevin started off with devotion (in keeping with the Agape Cup tradition), sharing about perspectives through a story (click here to watch the YouTube video) and encouraging all to take a different perspective of situations we face, in order to shape actions and behaviours positively. This would be especially helpful when we see things from God's perspective, and not always our own.

AMC and PMC players getting ready, while the referee inspects the field

Everyone gathers for the pre-match devotion

AMC players listening to the devotion

PMC lined up in its now familiar 4-4-2 formation:

Steve - Lincoln

Jingzhong - Marcus - Kevin - Jacob

Damien - Mark - Jeremy - Daniel

Michael

The match kicked off with AMC enjoying the lion's share of possession. Even though it was clear that the team on the field was far from being its strongest side, the pedigree of AMC teams never fail to shine through. Passing the ball swiftly to the wings, crosses were whipped in with deadly accuracy, only for poor finishing to prevent the opening goal from being scored. When AMC was stopped down the wing, shots were fired from outside the box, but again, PMC's GK Michael was not troubled for the moment. It took PMC quite a while to find its footing, but playing too many long balls meant losing possession regularly and needing to soak up much pressure. When there was some time on the ball, PMC was closed down quickly by the AMC players and chances were few and far between. It was no surprise when AMC finally took the lead. The ball found its way to AMC's nippy forward #30 (Chuan Hao) who took a pot-shot at goal. Jeremy was there to intercept but good only deflect the ball high and over Michael, who stood no chance as the ball looped into goal. It was 1-0 to AMC. PMC tried to get a better grip on the match after this initial setback but shots by Steve and Jingzhong hardly troubled the AMC GK Gopal. Andrew and Yi Jun came on for added firepower, in place of Steve and Lincoln. Half-time came with AMC fully deserving their one-goal lead.

1st half match action

Players from both teams took in some much needed fluid during the break and used the time to evaluate their gameplans. PMC in particular, knew that they had to play their own game of passing football, instead of the highly ineffective long balls of the first half. PMC also made some half-time changes, with Maurice coming on for Mark, Weijie for Marcus and Rusydi for Jingzhong. Taking to the field, PMC's changed gameplan started to bear fruit quickly. A number of swift passes saw chances by Andrew and Yi Jun, but they did not trouble Gopal. The best chance yet was a speedy counter-attack which saw the ball move from Michael, to Jacob on the right wing. He played Andrew in on the right, who swung a perfect cross to an un-marked Yi Jun in the middle, who headed wide from 6 yards out. AMC was certainly let off, and made PMC pay for it when within 5 minutes a long ball was not cleared by PMC, allowing AMC's Brian to make his way into the box and shoot pass Michael at his near-post. It was certainly a sucker punch for PMC. Not letting their heads drop, PMC continued to trust in their passing game and finally pulled a goal back. Again, good work down the right saw a deep cross whipped in. This was met by Rusydi cutting in from the left and his first time volley gave Gopal no chance in the AMC goal. It was 2-1 and all to play for. With the match in the balance, players' tempers also began to rear its ugly head. A scuffle from the #7s of both teams saw some pushing and shoving. Credit to the referee for stepping in to calm things down without the need to show yellow cards. However, within minutes PMC's Daniel had lunged in with a two-footed tackle on an AMC player and the referee had no choice but to show him the first yellow card of the match. As substitutions were made and play ensued, the closest PMC came to an equaliser was a shot from Weijie which ricocheted off the bar. PMC could not complete its comeback and the match ended 2-1 in favour of AMC.