Frontliners 300 vs Ztec Phoenix
0-3(0-0, 0-3)
0-3(0-0, 0-3)
First Period:
NA
Second Period:
3401 0-1 Adrian Koay
3747 0-2 Samuel Ong ( Daniel )
3822 0-3 Teik Hong
Bench Penalties:
Frontliners 300 NA
Ztec Phoenix NA
It was as if Phoenix switched to holiday mode on that Saturday. Fifteen minutes before the match, only two or three players shown up. Even when the match started, only half the team was there.
Where were the players? Must asks the coach.
This mode continued on into the first half and 300 took advantage of that from the start. It was 300 who took the game. The biggest opportunity falling to Tristan who just needed to aim and smack it in at point blank range. In the first half, Phoenix looked dull, uninspiring and short of ideas.
Still, against Phoenix's worst performance throughout the league, and with 300 best performance as a team so far, 300 still could not break the deadlock; this goes to show what separates the true contenders from the pretenders: substance.
Michael was quite the wanderer in defence and so was Adrian (he always is, anyway) in the centre, and for those two reasons... the half ended goalless.
The second half was a test for 300's mental strength. Phoenix, revitalized and shaken up, came out looking hungrier. It was now that Soon Khai's reflexes was really tested and he did not disappoint his team mates. Close shaves, the bar, and poor control was what helped 300 to keep the scoreline level. The ball was spending much more time in 300's half than in Phoenix's.
Yet through all the heart attacks Jason must have had, the hope that remained in 300 burnt steadily. Phoenix, after their excellent start to the second half, again looked as if they were out of ideas again after having thrown everything at a resolute 300 defence.
Unfortunately for 300, as fate would have it, it was a blunder by Soon Khai that opened the floodgates.
In the right corner, Phoenix had a player down on the ground doing goodness knows what, and it was a tight scene with three Spartans around, looking as if 300 had it all under control.
Inexplicably, Soon Khai chose to get up and out of his goal and walk towards the scene. Play looked like it had been stopped, players stopped running.
And then the ball appeared out of nowhere, so did Adrian.
There and then, Phoenix took one home.
A very cruel, silly goal to concede, and 300, who had been fighting tooth and nail since the start, went into freefall. Tempers rose, especially with Megan who had endured a rough time so far, and Jason had to call a time out to calm things down a bit.
Michael was pushed up to centre, and though he saw more of the ball, most of his runs were forced into the corner, away from the goal, by good Phoenix defending. 300's defence was short, with their three forwards all out in search for a goal, and Phoenix, not contented with just one goal, turned the screw even tighter, scoring another two.
In the end, Phoenix finished their campaign on a high note, and the empty-handed 300 were left to reflect on what could have been.
It was really a pity for 300 to end the game with a 3-0 deficit. Not easy to lose a game knowing that you played well as a team.
Frontliners 300:
Their first-half performance could've fooled people into thinking they, and not Phoenix, were the champions. It was a lovely team performance -- a rare sight in Division 2 -- everyone putting in their effort to make it work and no one sticking out in particular. They probably averaged more passes in this game compared to the total passes for their first four games.
But sports can be cruel, and on Saturday, one mistake was all it took for 300's army to crumble.
Somehow, the raw determination seen in their earlier games against Bullets and Griffins was nowhere to be seen. Sure. they put in a well-oiled, mechanical display and gave Phoenix a run for their money, but it looked as if the players were longing for the league to be over and done with.
Having said that, the way they rebounded from their disappointing draw with Firebrands was magnificent.
Simply put, 300 were just not good enough.
MoM:
Very hard.
The entire team (excepting the over-achieving Michael) played the game of their lives, especially June who was so crucial in defence, and Tristan who scared the wits out of the giant defenders with his tireless running and timely tackles. Still, although his mistake proved immensely costly, it is Soon Khai who gets the vote.
It was his logic-defying saves that kept Phoenix at bay for the most of the second half. Even after his horrible mistake, he picked himself up and continued his heroics that saved 300 the blushes.
Even big goalies make mistakes, but what defines them is how they react to their mistakes. So well done, Soon Khai.
Ztec Phoenix:
Ignoring the scoreline, arguably their worst performance so far.
And then again, they probably had the right to sit back, kick up their feet and relax as the title was already in the bag.
Bereft of ideas, passion and players, it was a team that was simply going through the motions. The entire team, including Mr. Consistency, underperformed. In the second half, things picked up a bit, but it was a lucky break that set them on course for the win.
The one positive that day was their defence, which looked stronger and more assured, and did well in keeping Megan, Tristan and Julian at bay, making sure that Yung Ming could sit comfortably and watch
MoM:
Also very hard, but for all the wrong reasons.
...
...
...
And after much deliberation, the award goes to Siu Keong for his steady performance at the back. Maybe because no one else shined brighter, but take no credit away from this player who marshalled the defence and held it steady, keeping a 300 who had scored in every game so far, goalless.
NA
Second Period:
3401 0-1 Adrian Koay
3747 0-2 Samuel Ong ( Daniel )
3822 0-3 Teik Hong
Bench Penalties:
Frontliners 300 NA
Ztec Phoenix NA
It was as if Phoenix switched to holiday mode on that Saturday. Fifteen minutes before the match, only two or three players shown up. Even when the match started, only half the team was there.
Where were the players? Must asks the coach.
This mode continued on into the first half and 300 took advantage of that from the start. It was 300 who took the game. The biggest opportunity falling to Tristan who just needed to aim and smack it in at point blank range. In the first half, Phoenix looked dull, uninspiring and short of ideas.
Still, against Phoenix's worst performance throughout the league, and with 300 best performance as a team so far, 300 still could not break the deadlock; this goes to show what separates the true contenders from the pretenders: substance.
Michael was quite the wanderer in defence and so was Adrian (he always is, anyway) in the centre, and for those two reasons... the half ended goalless.
The second half was a test for 300's mental strength. Phoenix, revitalized and shaken up, came out looking hungrier. It was now that Soon Khai's reflexes was really tested and he did not disappoint his team mates. Close shaves, the bar, and poor control was what helped 300 to keep the scoreline level. The ball was spending much more time in 300's half than in Phoenix's.
Yet through all the heart attacks Jason must have had, the hope that remained in 300 burnt steadily. Phoenix, after their excellent start to the second half, again looked as if they were out of ideas again after having thrown everything at a resolute 300 defence.
Unfortunately for 300, as fate would have it, it was a blunder by Soon Khai that opened the floodgates.
In the right corner, Phoenix had a player down on the ground doing goodness knows what, and it was a tight scene with three Spartans around, looking as if 300 had it all under control.
Inexplicably, Soon Khai chose to get up and out of his goal and walk towards the scene. Play looked like it had been stopped, players stopped running.
And then the ball appeared out of nowhere, so did Adrian.
There and then, Phoenix took one home.
A very cruel, silly goal to concede, and 300, who had been fighting tooth and nail since the start, went into freefall. Tempers rose, especially with Megan who had endured a rough time so far, and Jason had to call a time out to calm things down a bit.
Michael was pushed up to centre, and though he saw more of the ball, most of his runs were forced into the corner, away from the goal, by good Phoenix defending. 300's defence was short, with their three forwards all out in search for a goal, and Phoenix, not contented with just one goal, turned the screw even tighter, scoring another two.
In the end, Phoenix finished their campaign on a high note, and the empty-handed 300 were left to reflect on what could have been.
It was really a pity for 300 to end the game with a 3-0 deficit. Not easy to lose a game knowing that you played well as a team.
Frontliners 300:
Their first-half performance could've fooled people into thinking they, and not Phoenix, were the champions. It was a lovely team performance -- a rare sight in Division 2 -- everyone putting in their effort to make it work and no one sticking out in particular. They probably averaged more passes in this game compared to the total passes for their first four games.
But sports can be cruel, and on Saturday, one mistake was all it took for 300's army to crumble.
Somehow, the raw determination seen in their earlier games against Bullets and Griffins was nowhere to be seen. Sure. they put in a well-oiled, mechanical display and gave Phoenix a run for their money, but it looked as if the players were longing for the league to be over and done with.
Having said that, the way they rebounded from their disappointing draw with Firebrands was magnificent.
Simply put, 300 were just not good enough.
MoM:
Very hard.
The entire team (excepting the over-achieving Michael) played the game of their lives, especially June who was so crucial in defence, and Tristan who scared the wits out of the giant defenders with his tireless running and timely tackles. Still, although his mistake proved immensely costly, it is Soon Khai who gets the vote.
It was his logic-defying saves that kept Phoenix at bay for the most of the second half. Even after his horrible mistake, he picked himself up and continued his heroics that saved 300 the blushes.
Even big goalies make mistakes, but what defines them is how they react to their mistakes. So well done, Soon Khai.
Ztec Phoenix:
Ignoring the scoreline, arguably their worst performance so far.
And then again, they probably had the right to sit back, kick up their feet and relax as the title was already in the bag.
Bereft of ideas, passion and players, it was a team that was simply going through the motions. The entire team, including Mr. Consistency, underperformed. In the second half, things picked up a bit, but it was a lucky break that set them on course for the win.
The one positive that day was their defence, which looked stronger and more assured, and did well in keeping Megan, Tristan and Julian at bay, making sure that Yung Ming could sit comfortably and watch
MoM:
Also very hard, but for all the wrong reasons.
...
...
...
And after much deliberation, the award goes to Siu Keong for his steady performance at the back. Maybe because no one else shined brighter, but take no credit away from this player who marshalled the defence and held it steady, keeping a 300 who had scored in every game so far, goalless.
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