The final group stage game for PMC took place at Junyuan Secondary, with AMC turning up inhuge numbers, relative to PMC's tight small squad of 14 players. With qualification virtually guaranteed, some members of the PMC team chose to rest their wearied bodies (especially those doing their National Service), while others were injured or unavailable due to work/personal commitments. Still, the 14 that turned up were committed to give their best, as there was still the slim chance that PMC could finish top of the group with a victory over PMC, and BENS defeating CAG.
Singspiration and Sharing was lead by PMC, with Maurice leading 2 songs, followed by Steve’s sharing on being part of a team. Maurice then closed with a word of prayer. To confirm the strong ties between PMC and AMC, the team leaders also facilitated a good show of sportsmanship, with Derek and Weijie shaking hands to bury any unhappiness from the previous game between the 2 sides on 13th May 2012. This was a good testimony that should mark the footballing exchanges between Christians and certainly there was already a victory (in this sense) even before kick-off.
With quite a number of regulars absent, the starting 11 for PMC saw players taking unfamiliar positions in the following manner:
Singspiration and Sharing was lead by PMC, with Maurice leading 2 songs, followed by Steve’s sharing on being part of a team. Maurice then closed with a word of prayer. To confirm the strong ties between PMC and AMC, the team leaders also facilitated a good show of sportsmanship, with Derek and Weijie shaking hands to bury any unhappiness from the previous game between the 2 sides on 13th May 2012. This was a good testimony that should mark the footballing exchanges between Christians and certainly there was already a victory (in this sense) even before kick-off.
With quite a number of regulars absent, the starting 11 for PMC saw players taking unfamiliar positions in the following manner:
Martin
Daniel Chen - Steve - Rusydi
Isaiah - Dominic
Andrew - Jeremy Sin - Kee Min
Weijie
Maurice
AMC, on the other hand, appeared to field a very strong young team, clearly intent on securing top spot in the group, so that they would meet the weakest team in the other group in the Quarter-finals. AMC kicked off the match with a high tempo, pressing high to force PMC into early errors. AMC players were quick and earned the first corner early in the game, from which they scored their first goal of the game. It was not the first time in a PMC-AMC match that PMC stood rooted after only minutes in the game. Before long, PMC conceded their 2nd goal, when possession was lost on the left wing and a random shot caught Maurice off guard. Having conceded only 2 goals in his previous 3 games, it was a tough start for Maurice, as AMC constantly sent long balls and attacks via their flanks, causing the PMC defence to be in disarray. Being unable to keep possession or threaten AMC, PMC conceded their 3rd goal when AMC's winger was able to advance down the left flank and sent a cross in. Unfortunately for Weijie, his attempt to intercept the ball sent it past Maurice instead. With the 1st half moving at great pace, and PMC unable to keep up, another goal was conceded late in the half, signalling the end of PMC's attempt to finish top of the group.
The half-time team talked focused on finding a way to get back into the match, however unlikely that would seem, and to stop conceding goals at the rate they did in the 1st half. The decision was made to adopt a 4-4-2 formation in search of goals. Changes were also made at half-time for fresh legs to come, using all 3 substitutes that PMC had, with Michael coming on for Maurice in goal, Yi Jun up front for Steve, and Lincoln on the left of midfield for Daniel Chen, who completed his first action of the CRC2012 season, having sat out the first 6 matches due to injury and work. The AMC team appeared to change about half their team as well, clearly showing the confidence that they would hold on to their 4-goal lead.
Despite the changes in formation and having fresher legs in the team, PMC continued to struggle to make any head-way in the match, conceding 2 early goals in the 2nd half. The notable goal from the 2 was one of those cross-shots from deep (almost half-way line), which sailed over Michale and dipped just under the bar, leaving Michael helpless. A positive takeaway from PMC was that despite the odds, PMC tried their best to play stronger, going in harder for all the 50-50 balls. Its cause was not helped when at the 60th minute, Weijie went down with a knee injury after a challenge on an AMC forward. PMC thus had to soldier on with 10 man for the final 20 minutes, doing some re-shuffling to its formation again. AMC's final goal came from a counter-attack, outpacing Isaiah (who was covering at CB) and squaring the ball just beyond Kee Min’s reach for a forward to score. The final whistle could not come soon enough to signal PMC's biggest defeat of the season. On the larger scheme of things, it did not dampen the fact that PMC had qualified for the Quarter-finals for the 1st time in 5 years of Christian league football.
Despite the loss, it was a great effort by PMC to combat a strong AMC team. The match was played in good spirits. There were very few fouls made throughout the game and no yellow cards shown. PMC certainly learnt a couple of footballing lessons from their stronger and more experienced opponents, who showed why they were the perennial champions of the tournament. After the full-time team talk, Maurice closed off the session with a prayer, especially seeking recovery for those who sustained knocks as well as for players who called in sick.
The half-time team talked focused on finding a way to get back into the match, however unlikely that would seem, and to stop conceding goals at the rate they did in the 1st half. The decision was made to adopt a 4-4-2 formation in search of goals. Changes were also made at half-time for fresh legs to come, using all 3 substitutes that PMC had, with Michael coming on for Maurice in goal, Yi Jun up front for Steve, and Lincoln on the left of midfield for Daniel Chen, who completed his first action of the CRC2012 season, having sat out the first 6 matches due to injury and work. The AMC team appeared to change about half their team as well, clearly showing the confidence that they would hold on to their 4-goal lead.
Despite the changes in formation and having fresher legs in the team, PMC continued to struggle to make any head-way in the match, conceding 2 early goals in the 2nd half. The notable goal from the 2 was one of those cross-shots from deep (almost half-way line), which sailed over Michale and dipped just under the bar, leaving Michael helpless. A positive takeaway from PMC was that despite the odds, PMC tried their best to play stronger, going in harder for all the 50-50 balls. Its cause was not helped when at the 60th minute, Weijie went down with a knee injury after a challenge on an AMC forward. PMC thus had to soldier on with 10 man for the final 20 minutes, doing some re-shuffling to its formation again. AMC's final goal came from a counter-attack, outpacing Isaiah (who was covering at CB) and squaring the ball just beyond Kee Min’s reach for a forward to score. The final whistle could not come soon enough to signal PMC's biggest defeat of the season. On the larger scheme of things, it did not dampen the fact that PMC had qualified for the Quarter-finals for the 1st time in 5 years of Christian league football.
Despite the loss, it was a great effort by PMC to combat a strong AMC team. The match was played in good spirits. There were very few fouls made throughout the game and no yellow cards shown. PMC certainly learnt a couple of footballing lessons from their stronger and more experienced opponents, who showed why they were the perennial champions of the tournament. After the full-time team talk, Maurice closed off the session with a prayer, especially seeking recovery for those who sustained knocks as well as for players who called in sick.
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