Final Score: COR 2 : 2 MFC (Guo Xian 1, Gerald 1)
This week, MFC's league opponents bailed out again..leaving MFC to a walkover victory and a face off friendly with a new team called COR. Decked out in orange attire, COR is a church team with predominately local chinese players in their ranks. It was certainly going to be an interesting friendly match.
In the scorching afternoon sun, MFC kicked out with 13 players. Regulars Alex, Eric and Firdaus were notable absentees and so was Chris Tan, Silas and Augustine. The team had a new look, with Vice Captain Walter and Norris pairing up for centre defence, Kartik and Lil Eric as left and right backs. For the first time, Jonathan started in the middle of midfield with Gerald, Jason dropping deep in front of the defence. MFC also had a pre match boost when pacy winger Zeng Yi came for the game.
The game got underway and it was quite a boring affair with both teams equally cautious and effective in cutting off attacks. COR played a similar style as MFC, launching long balls from midfield to their strikers who were lurking upfront, looking for an opening. Fortunately, Norris and Walter performed well, displaying a no nonsense approach when clearing balls to saftey and stopping several attacks from COR.
Guo Xian and Zeng Yi were also struggling with no clear chances upfront; COR's defence was very well organized and they did well to cut off opportunities for both MFC players. The first real break came and MFC was rewarded with a goal. Guo Xian, brought down with a shirt tug, was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box. He curled the ball well towards the goal and the COR keeper made a mess of the save; the ball slipped through his hands.
It remained 1-0 that way till half time and both teams were struggling in the heat. MFC was confident of hanging on for a win and probably score a few more goals. It seemed that way when the second half got underway. MFC was awarded a free kick from just past the half way line of the pitch. Gerald took the free kick and aimed it at Guo Xian who was waiting in the penalty box. The free kick went high, directly at the COR goalkeeper and again, he made a mess of the save by allowing the ball to lob over him and into the goal.
2-0 and MFC was cruising..but not for long. COR was allowed back into the game courtesy of 2 soft goals. Keeper Cross should have done better with a set piece save but he dropped the ball; the COR striker near him reacted the quickest to blast the ball into the goal. The second goal for COR was scored via a low cross from the left into the penalty area. Though there were no COR strikers at hand to finish, the ball was allowed to creep into the bottom left of the goal.
MFC were demotivated and COR went from strength to strength. The midfield was controlled by the COR players and they did not relent, pushing forward for a third goal. MFC relied on counter attacks to find the third goal and on one such counter attack, Norris was fouled near the penalty area. The referee Koh blew for a penalty and Calvin volunteered to take the penalty though there was a designated penalty taker in Guo Xian. Calvin's penalty was blocked by the goalkeeper and the chance to be in the lead went begging.
MFC had more chances closer to the end of the 2nd half; Zeng Yi's run down the right flank turned into a scoring chance when he cut in past a defender and shot from an acute angle. The shot was good but it hit the crossbar.
The final whistle came and it was all over. A fairly even game which a draw result was warranted, given both team's performance. For MFC, it would be a case of what might have been, if the penalty had been converted or even if regulars Eric, Alex and Firdaus had been around.
High Points
1) COR was a worthy opponent and they shared many similar aspects of game play with how MFC plays.
2) MFC defence did well in the absence of Eric and Firdaus. Howard, Kartik, Norris, Walter all played a vital part in stopping COR's attacks
3) Wonder goal from a free kick from the halfway line
4) COR's three cheers for MFC at the end of the game just showed us what good sportmanship they possessed.
Low Points
1) Cross did relatively well in the match but his catching of high balls and some other aspects of his goalkeeping can be improved to make him a better goalkeeper
2) Terence's dislocated knee injury
3) MFC midfield in the second half was in disarray, allowing COR to stamp their authority and dictate play.
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