Friendly Match Report: PMC vs COS (31st August)

PMC's run of matches continued with a friendly against COS. Having made it to the CRC finals the week after this, COS had chosen PMC to help prepare it for the final match of their CRC season. It was a very wet Sunday leading up to the match, and upon arrival, it was clear that everyone would be enjoying a mud-bath. The PMC welcomed a couple more newcomers for this match, Winston (TM of COA), Jacob's friend Li Da and Malcolm, who played for the PMC Veterans in 2013. The team lined up as follows:

Joel

Jeremy Tan - Kevin -  Jacob

Kee Min - Samuel

Damien - Jeremy Sin - Daniel Low

Felix

Winston

COS started brighter of the 2 teams, putting together some slick moves and switching the ball from flank to flank with ease, showcasing the reason why it had overcome all teams to make it to the CRC finals in 2014. PMC had to rely most on the counter attack and the impetus to send quick balls into the box proved useful, with Kevin having 2 early chances which the COS GK was able to save. On PMC's end, Winston was also handling the ball well and making saves look routine. It was still 0-0 midway through the first half, with good combative football in the middle of the park and some nice passing moves from both teams. It took a thunderbolt of a shot from the COS player to put COS 1-0 at half-time, which was a fair scoreline leading into the break.

In the 2nd half, Maurice, Li Da and Yi Jun came on for their run-out and was putting in a decent shift to keep the score at 1-0. Again, it was only midway through the half that COS made their 2nd break through, a peach of a cross headed into the net by a COS midfielder running from deep. With that, more substitutions were made for the final push, however, the floodgates seemed to be opening as a 3rd goal was conceded shortly after, following some unnecessary exchange of words and emotions from players on both sides. Bringing the PMC players together before kickoff, the PMC team focused on getting back into the match, and started a commendable comeback. In the final 10 minutes of the half, PMC first got 1 back when a PMC free kick found its way to Yi Jun who made no mistake in a one-on-one situation with the GK. Following that, Yi Jun got his 2nd goal after a quick free kick from Joel. It was almost 3-3 when another good pass by Joel found Kevin's run on goal, but his left foot shot was well blocked by the recovering defender. The PMC tried as they could to level the match, but it ended 3-2 in favour of COS.