NUS 1-0 NTU

In a much anticipated encounter between arch rivals NUS and NTU, a solitary Fu Chengwei goal was all that separated the varsity sides in what was mostly an edgy but conservative 90 minutes.

Within 3 minutes, NUS drew first blood. In characteristically unpredictable fashion, NUS forward Chengwei thumped a hard shot (cross-shot, perhaps?) from what seemed like an impossibly acute angle within the penalty box. NTU goalkeeper Kevin was well placed and fully stretched but the velocity and dip of Chengwei's shot caught all by surprise as the ball found the back of the net.

As the match picked up the pace, the ball rallied continuously between both sides, with the midfield areas seeing most of the play. Few outright opportunities presented themselves in what was a somewhat stifling and nervous first half. Although NTU managed a shot on goal from a free kick 30 yards out, the ball fell straight to Harpreet's arms and the NUS goal was hardly ever threatened thereafter.

The second half saw more risks taken by both sides. An adventurous attack by NUS nearly resulted in a doubling of their lead when Chengwei's low cross was not conclusively finished by Sudhi's left footed shot. NTU threw the kitchen sink at NUS, launching bodies up front in an effort to find an equalizer. This gamble did not pay off, as NUS emerged victors for the day.

Play of the day: Near-impossible goal by Chengwei sees NUS collect 3 important points
Quote of the day: "You come here and check whether got 10 steps behind or not lah!" An irate Vincent whimsically questions if the referee's visual ascertaining of 10 yards from a fair distance away is indeed compromised by parallax error