FOOTBALL CLUB WORLD

Our team in D2D league
Rest of league results

Clementi Woods Sec 3pm - Some of us might have looked forward to this game against Team Tsubasa because it was against the only team we had beaten in the league this season, but by the end of the game, we counted yet another defeat. Despite the loss, I was pleased with how we had followed up on our performance last week. Danial Iman made his debut in the starting XI while Andrew and Rashid also returned to the team after a period of absence, with a heavy rotation evident throughout the squad today.

It was a cagey first half with both teams restricted to long-range shots despite the size of the field. Keeping goal again, I gave cause for concern early on when I fumbled a routine high ball. Fortunately, the opponent could only skied the loose ball with the goal at his mercy from two yards out. The first half was devoid of highlights but Danial's debut featured much promise down the flanks with some fancy footwork. Not to be outdone, Omar marveled with a slalom dribble on his own, though his cross was off the mark. Defensively, Andrew was menacing, which was typified when he made a couple of key interceptions. It was goalless at half-time.

Minutes after the restart, Omar was withdrawn after sustaining an injury while Helmi also had to hobble off soon after. TT threatened in the final third at our end of the pitch without registering any shot on target from open play. They came close from a freekick which I kept out with a single-handed save. Danial who came on after Omar's withdrawal, was our most viable threat and carved out the best chance of the game. He had completed another dribble down the right flank into the penalty box and picked out Huang at the near post, but Huang could only shot wide when it had looked easier to score. TT capitalized on our profligacy to take the lead from a counter-attack. All eyes were on Azmi when he headed a harmless TT crossfield pass into the path of an opponent. He bore down on our goal and slid a through pass for his team-mate, who eluded Andrew and drilled the ball low past the slightest touches of my fingertips into the corner of the goal. TT doubled their lead after an opponent sprung our offside trap with a through ball for his team-mate, who calmly finished to score. We could have pulled one goal back after Danial again provided a chance from the right flank. This time, he was hacked down inside the penalty box to win a penalty. With myself keeping goal, Rashid who seemed eager to impress on his return, took over and perhaps looked slightly overconfident when he could only dispatched the penalty kick wide to the left of goal. Fairuz's long throws and a couple of wasted freekicks were our last resort but we could not score the goal that could have made for a dramatic conclusion towards the end.

After last week, the excitement and energy oozed in our team yet again in spite of the various permutations caused by the heavy rotation. In my view, we all seem to be having fun playing soccer recently with all pressure off. The injuries to Omar and Helmi (and Fairuz's shoulder aches) look worrying but hopefully, they will recover well. Three league games more to be played but I am already looking forward to next season when hopefully we can count more victories than defeats next time.

Akim