Match Report

Before i bring u the report from soccernet.com.sg, i wish to highlight some issues~

(A) Next Week's Schedule
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"The only ever thing that remains constant is change"
- certain someone

Well, so does our schedule. As it is, we are now training on tuesday (9am @NUS), thurs (9am @NUS) and fri (530pm match @RP). So pls reschedule appts!

(B) Commitments
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As conspicuousy highlighted in ytrdae's game, we only had 12 players who are able to play, which includes 2 keepers. The euphoric semi-finals victory over ITE seems zillion years ago with all the IHG activities that went on for the past 3weeks. You have to agree that the team has not trained together for a very long time and this is not healthy for a team set to be appearing in a final for the very first time. Or do we think have done enough just by securing a place in the finals? Are we content with just breaking "the record" and have forgotten abt wanting to become champions? I hope everyone can take some time to think abt what exactly do u want for urself, and for the team.

If what u want is what i want, then, let ur actions speak for themselves - show commitment. You may be injured, but u can still come down to do some recovery work (light injury) or get treatment (serious cases) from Uncle Sam . (compliments to Andy, Hatta and Joseph for coming down ytrdae even though they couldn't play.) Yes, I do understand that sch is unrelenting in its pursuit to bury us with endless assignments/projects - i have been through and am still going through all these, as with any one of u. I just hope we can find a right balance among sch, soccer, family (including gfs) and leisure. Apart from russell whose rugby tournament is still on in mid march (crush them!) and mayank whose exams are coming up soon (good luck!), i hope everyone can try to come for at least 2/3 training every week.

And now, over to the match report.. =)

(C) Match report
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In the Fiesty Friday big match show down between President's Cup Finalist (NUS) and Geylang United FC's Prime League team, NUS came up tops with a 3-1 hardfought victory.

However, early stages of the game painted a different picture as Geylang showed their experience at playing high level football by comtfortably stroking the ball around the park with commanding center back, Vincent Wong, directing and dictating play. They show glimpses of quality with their crisp passing and their off-ball mobile movements before opening the scoring with local-born Englishmen darting in between the 2 central defenders to fire home a corner. (Ed: It is obvious he is a Singaporean - he was complaining for 90mins straight. Who can beat that?!)

But, their joy was shortlived as Real-Mardrid-target, Fu Chengwei, equalised yet again for NUS, reminding fans of his heroics in the recent World Cup semi-finals against ITE. Receiving a brilliant threaded pass by Wing Wizard, Nigel-my-left foot-is-the-best-in-the-team near the edge of the box, the deadly striker still had time to take a touch (or 2) before rifling the ball towards the goalkeepers's top righthand corner. The shot was so precise that it went in off the cross-bar, leaving the Geylang goalkeeper with no chance whatsoever. A KR coaching staff was seen fuming and cursing in the stands, puzzled by his star purchase's erratic performances between club and country, for he never really shone for them in the recent Cup tournament, ending the tournament with no goals to his name.

Both teams left the field with the match tied a draw. When play resumed, both teams went at each other with fierce pace, but this time, it was NUS who was able to get an edge over their opponents. Following a intricate play of passing, Nigel capitalise on a loose ball on the left channel to send in a brilliant cross which Sudi brought down beautifully after the defender completely missed his header. This was brilliant improvisation from the versatile winger in the box, who seemed to have a phobia for headers. With acres of time and space, he dispatched a shot towards goal. And if the previous goal was a beauty, this goal oozes of pure class. After the goalkeeper pulled out a remarkable save, Kaka showed all his experience by inching forward from his original position at the penalty spot, as if he knew all along that the ball will rebound to him, to power home the goal. In an interview after the game, Kaka said "it was a difficult shot to take from 6yards out. Anybody could have sky-ed it. I just made it looked easy. But im happy to open my scoring for NUS after a deadline transfer from Milan and I hope i can continue to play in my preferred position (not right-back), score more goals and enjoy my football. Money is not important."

If Geylang was rocked by the sensation goal by Kaka, they certainly didn't show it as they poured men forward at every attack, looking most dangerous at corners, threatening to score with every passing one. However, NUS hit them with a sucker-punch against the run of play. Now playing as a right back, Sudhi picked up the ball at the halfway line follwing a bad clearance by the Geylang keeper. With a look, he sent the ball booming towards goal, chipping the goalkeeper a-la-beckham-alonso with a stunning goal. And with that, he wrapped the tie to give NUS a deserved victory.

Quote of the day has to go to Decent Daowei, who felt threatened after the local ang moh's powerful spit had landed precariously near him, told him: "eh, no spiiting in Singapore leh."


I'll add more on the Kumar-episode tmr. Running late.