Monday, June 10, 2013

CRC2013 Match #4 Report: PMC vs CAG (9th June)

The PMC Soccer Team turned up at its new 'home ground' of St Gabriel's Secondary School truly intending to get its season back on the road again. Bolstered by the return of last year's offensive duo of Timothy and Martin, the PMC team was certainly hopeful of a good result, even though Isaiah and Daniel were suspended, and Rusydi and Jacob were away.

The pre-match proceedings began with CAG leading in worship and some sharing by their leaders. The PMC team conferred for their pre-match team talk and focused on playing offensively, and getting the result that was badly needed. The team lined up in the following formation:

Martin

Jingzhong - Timothy - Justin

Kee Min - Jeremy Sin

Damien - Kevin - Samuel 

Weijie

David Lim

Both teams started competitively although with contrasting styles. PMC was playing primarily down the middle, with the occasional ball through the left with Jingzhong. CAG on the other hand, was quick to swing long diagonal balls to their wingers at every opportunity, using these speedy players to send quick crosses in or cutting in to take shots on goal. CAG threatened more than PMC in the early stages, with their quick wingers. More than once they had opportunity to shoot, but their shots sailed high, wide or both. Unfortunately for PMC, there was only so much onslaught the team could withstand and when a low cross was played just outside the box, the PMC defenders were wrong-footed by an unplanned double dummy, allowing a free CAG player to shoot unobstructed into the corner of David Lim's net to put CAG 1-0 up. Undaunted, PMC pressed for the equaliser, with Martin leading the line. When he was fouled just outside the box, Timothy stepped up to fire a free-kick into the net, leaving the CAG GK with no chance. With the scores back level at 1-1, both team used the remainder of the 1st half to bring an advantage to the interval, but to no avail. During the half-time team talk, everyone was encouraged by a positive first half but was asked to improve communication and increase chances in the final third.

The same team trudged onto the field for the 2nd half, determined to take the match to CAG. Both teams tried to get the rhythm going again, but CAG was clearly getting the lion's share of chances, with Weijie and Samuel having to make goal-line clearances, and the PMC crossbar saving the team on 3 occasions. Offensively, PMC wasn't that sharp, with just hopeful balls lofted into the CAG half. It was thus no surprise that CAG took the lead again, with another swift break down the PMC right flank. As hard as the defenders tried, the whipped cross evaded a number of players in the box, leaving the CAG forward near the far post to finish from a tight angle. Being 2-1 down, PMC brought on David Sng for Sameul and Yi Jun for Justin in search of goals. The equaliser did come quickly, but it was all done to the individual work of Jingzhong, who stole the ball from CAG's LB and took on the GK to make it 2-2. With full time just 15min away, it seemed like a draw was to be a fair result, but both teams disregarded that fact and continued to attack. However, the game-changer arrived when David Sng and David Lim went for the same high ball, without an opponent near them. The collision left David Lim on the ground with a badly sprained ankle, and was subbed off with Maurice coming on. Steve also came on for Martin during this time. With the defence slightly shaken and CAG continuing their onslaught from the wing, it was a matter of time before a high ball was not well claimed by Maurice, leaving the CAG forward to poke the ball into an empty net. It was another bitter pill for PMC to swallow, with a late goal leaving PMC without a point from the match after working so hard. 

The post-game team talk sounded familiar as it was the 2nd consecutive game that PMC had been at 2-2 at the 70th minute, but late mistakes leaving the team on the losing end. Still everyone felt the effort was good, and left knowing that there would still be more matches to play. David Lim had to leave for the hospital for an X-ray but was thankful to find his ankle not fractured. 


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