FOOTBALL CLUB WORLD

Our team in D2D league
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Damai Sec 3pm -  This friendly match was played against familiar and potential future opponents next season that ended in defeat for Kambing FC. All 3 goals came from corners as Osiris FC overturned a first half deficit to snare a narrow win. Bryan ZC was the latest face in the team and we got off to an explosive start. Bryan made an instant impact when our first corner led to the opening goal. I met his deep cross at the far post with a header that just crept into goal. The game then settled into a balanced state of play and Osiris almost drew level but the opponent unbelievably struck the bar from 2 yards out with the goal at his mercy. The relative ease which our defence gifted that chance was a concern though with Azmi especially looking less steady than usual as the game wore on. Our chances fell only to Azmi and Bryan from set-pieces that were routine saves for the tall GK while he also had a close call with a save on the goal-line. At our end, Yazier kept out a couple of stingers, including a dangerous cross, and later, we were fortunate that no opponent was on hand to turn a low cross into goal. We were having trouble creating chances and the lack of depth in reserves did not provide us much options. Our short passing was evident only in rare patches that further limit our attacking impetus with a clearly unfit Azman not at his influential best so much so that an unwell Rahman outshone him in comparison. We can count ourselves lucky to remain 1-0 ahead at half-time with fatigue clearly showing in our lackluster play towards the later part of the first half.

After the restart, Osiris, having built up gradual momentum, drew level when an opponent headed in a corner. Their corners seemed to be drilled from the training ground but our defence kept them out following that equalizer. Indiscipline then crept in our game when laughs were heard while the ball was still in play. Osiris finally took the lead when the opponent scored directly from the corner with Yazier beaten by the awkward pace and power of the left-footed inswinger. I could have equalized from yet another corner but my header from Bryan's delivery crashed against the upright and my goalbound effort, when I met Jo's flick on the edge of the box, packed no real punch, and that was just about the last decent attack for us despite our last-ditch efforts to force an equalizer.

We should not be totally displeased with the loss but clearly, we could have played much better. The likes of Osiris are the type of opponents we can strive to match on an equal playing field, while our fitness, as it was in the game, could do with a stark improvement as well. The indiscipline I mentioned earlier was also something that we should cut out and I have to again comment on our punctuality when we could have arrived early and used the time to get used to the pitch in the form of a kickabout prior to kick-off.

Akim