Final Score: EASB GTR 3 : 4 MFC (Alex, Norris(3))
Action from all over the muddy field | "Don't dream! Dream to Win!" Those were the words that rang out from MFC Captain, Eric during the pre match team cheer. Certainly, the dream was fulfilled against this weekend's opponents, EASB GTR, a chinese team which included 2 of the best players from last week's opponents Sino CHN FC. Welcoming Alex and Norris from a one match absence, Maestro looked strong with almost a full lineup. With so many players available for selection, it could only mean that MFC was ready to run the opponents right down the clock to the final whistle. After the pre match warmup led by Guo Xian, Maestro was briefed on team tactics, a 4-4-2 formation with Norris and Guo Xian up front. |
Buoyed by drawing first blood, MFC seeked the second goal and they got it, courtesy of Norris, who raced onto a lovely high ball from Calvin and beat the goalkeeper with an accurate shot from an acute angle. 2-0 up and with EASB looking lost, MFC continued to pile on the pressure with a variety of chances to wrap up the game. However, the chances all went begging and MFC was soon made to pay for their inability to kill off the game when EASB pulled one goal back just before half time.
| The second half begun in similar fashion as the first, with MFC creating more chances but again, it was EASB who got their equalizer. Their "imported" player, Yu Jia, showed just why he is considered one of the potent threats of the team when he beat Eric with his pace and strength before beating Cross for the equalizer. From then on, things just got worse. MFC, gutted at a losing a 2 goal lead, failed to pull themselves together. This led to EASB getting their third goal and being ahead for the first time. Remembering what Captain, Eric, said about dreaming to win, MFC started to show just why they deserve to win with better coordination and overall teamplay improving. With the defence starting to nullify the threat from opponents Yu Jia and "Roo" and a switch to 4-3-3 formation, MFC looked like a team on a mission. | Action from all over the muddy field |
The Guo Xian and Norris partnership bore fruit again today when Guo Xian turned provider for the Norris, not once but twice! First, Guo Xian's cross into the penalty box was received by Norris who scored the equalizer. Then at the death, when MFC threw men forward in hope of a the winning goal, Guo Xian became the provider for the third time. He took a power packed shot towards the goal but it was deflected into the path of Norris who made no mistake with only just the goalkeeper to beat.
Judging by the team celebrations that erupted following the winning goal, it was certainly a match which many MFCians would have wanted to badly win especially after having gone 2-0 up initially. With the final whistle coming soon after, MFC emerged winners in this thrilling 4-3 win, earning another 3 points in the bag and propelling the team up the league table!
High Points
1) Eric's comments on "Only Dream to Win!" motivated the team to do better
2) Unsung hero, though he did not score, Guo Xian was the provider for 3 of the 4 goals.
3) Great turnout from the team; only a handful failed to make it.
4) Great job from MFC defence in marking out EASB threats like Yu Jia and "Roo"!
5) Norris' brillant performace which resulted in a hat trick.
Low Points
1) The field was ultra muddy after the morning rain.
2) MFC's collapse towards the end of the first half and start of the second half which awarded EASB 2 easy goals
3) The late kickoff; wasn't the match supposed to be played at 3.30pm?
4) Defensive errors resulted in 2 unnecessary goals conceded
All photos courtesy of Chris Lau (www.chrisjhpixels.com)
Album: http://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m392/maestrofootballclub/Match%20Pics/10_5_09%20MFC%20VS%20EASB%20GTR/
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