PMC and TSA pose for a combined photo before kick-off
Following singspiration and sharing led by the TSA, the teams huddled for their respective team-talks before kick-off. PMC had a fair number of players to draw from in its final match, although some notable absentees were noticed. Nonetheless, in the spirit of team work and commitment that has been the bedrock of PMC's matches this season, the following line-up was fielded:
David Sng
Jingzhong - Rusydi - Lincoln
Jeremy Sin - Kee Min
Damien - Jacob - Weijie - Daniel Low
David Lim
The match started brightly for both teams, especially TSA, as they knew a win would allow them to qualify in 2nd position instead of 3rd in the league table. It was evident that their #32 was going to be their main go-to guy with his deft touches and dribbling skills. PMC relied on its direct style of play and both sides had some decent chances in the first half to take the lead. Passages of play were fairly even for both teams, and the first critical moment of the match came when in one move, TSA's #32 took out Damien, and had the whole right wing to roam until Weijie intervened with a jersey tug which led to a yellow card from the ref. Although the ensuing free kick was sent high and wide by #32, it set the tone for his next move when he controlled the ball in front of Jacob, turned the PMC player and fired an unstoppable shot past David to give TSA the 1-0 lead. Undaunted, PMC continued to press with most of the good work done by Rusydi and Jingzhong in the attacking midfield positions. The TSA GK was called into 1 or 2 decent saves to keep the score 1-0 in TSA's favour at half-time. In the moments before half-time, Jacob also received a yellow card following some desperation defending to prevent TSA from taking a 2-goal lead into the half.
A few changes were made before the start of the 2nd half, with Kevin coming on in place of Jeremy Sin and Samuel coming in for Lincoln. This meant some changes with Sheldon in DM, Kevin in AM, Daniel Low in RM and Samuel at RB. These changes did not deter PMC at all, and in fact, allowed some fluidity in attacking play, with 1 or 2 chances falling PMC's way early in the first half. There were some passages of play with excellent 4 to 5 touch moves and one of these ended with Daniel Low swinging a wicked cross into TSA's penalty box which the defender only half cleared, allowing Kevin to fire the ball into the goal with his left foot for his first goal of the season. With the score at 1-1 and all to play for, Isaac came on to add more attacking verve to the PMC attack. It was PMC all the way, with TSA relying on the counter and their #32 to either play the killer pass or take the PMC team on by himself. However, a lack of restraint saw Weijie retaliate against a TSA player who had kicked him. With the referee only witnessing what Weijie, and not the TSA player, had done, he had no choice but to award Weijie his 2nd yellow card and a sending off. Depleted, PMC was then on the back foot and a brilliant move on the left of the goal saw TSA's #32 beat 2 to 3 PMC players before firing a stiff shot past David to make it 2-1 to TSA. It was a cruel blow to PMC who until then, had matched and even exceeded TSA in most departments of the match. As the final whistle blew to signal the end of PMC's season, the team knew that they had not lost to a better team, but a better player. Indeed, analysis of the season will show that PMC only lost by 1-goal to all the teams above it, barring COS. Certainly an improvement from the previous season.
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