Friendly Match Report: PMC vs TCC Veterans (6th July)

The PMC Soccer Team continued to keep up with their match fitness and tactical training by taking on the TCC Veterans on a weekend where most of the team were away. As such, it was another opportunity for some friends and potential additions to the team to join in at St Patrick's School. 

Although the TCC Veterans team was named as such, it was clear that they had a number of younger legs in key positions where their skill and speed would trouble us. Nonetheless, the focus was again on getting ready for the next CRC match and less on the final outcome of this match. 

PMC started off the match quite well, with Kee Min and Timothy controlling the midfield by holding the ball well. TCC looked like they had no inhibition using their bodies and experience to win the ball, but more often than not, these resulted in fouls against them, winning us vital free kicks that Rusydi took. Interestingly, the first couple of chances fell to Kevin, who although was playing as Stopper, pushed up during free kicks and corners. The TCC team focused their attacks through the middle, allowing Samuel and Wei En more space to push up on the wings. Overall, both teams were playing controlled, physical football, with chances being few and far-between. At about the 20min mark, some changes were made to rotate the team. It was shortly after these changes that TCC was able to beat the PMC offside trap, allowing their forward to score from a one-on-one situation with GK Joel. Not to be dismayed being a goal down, the PMC pushed forward for the rest of the half, but the chances were not forthcoming. 

The half-time team talk focused on keeping the ball, playing it to feet, and create more chances with better final balls in the box. This did happen for a good portion of the second half, but none of these turned into goals. This was until a free kick was won just outside the TCC box for Samuel to step up and curl a beautiful right footer into the right corner of the TCC net to bring things level at 1-1. PMC continued to push forward to win the match, with TCC unable to keep up, sitting deep to defend and trying to hit on the break to no avail. It took a somewhat bewildering decision by the referee to turn the game in TCC's favour when he decided to award TCC a penalty following a corner when a TCC player tumbled in the box under no apparent challenge by a PMC player. The TCC penalty-taker made no mistake with his effort, although David Lim (now back in goal) almost got his hand to the ball. PMC pushed hard to find the equaliser in the final 5min of the match, but it ended 2-1 in TCC's favour. 

Overall, the team played well despite having many regulars away, and this was encouraging in preparation for the next CRC match when many regulars would either be suspended or still away.