Final Score: MFC 1 : 2 Little Flowers (SUF 1)
MFC's last minute switch from a friendly to a league game against the Little Flowers was a welcome change. Flashback to the last time MFC played the Little Flowers, it ended hysterically, with the some Little Flowers players putting up such good entertainment for everyone.
With such fond memories, MFC went into the game confident to get a win to maintain the pressure on the British Exiles and continue a fine league run. MFC had a good team out, with Zhar, Norris, Jonathan, Walter starting for defence,a midfield five and livewire Suffian upfront with Guo Xian on the flanks. The 4-5-1 formation did well for MFC as the pressure was plied onto the Little Flowers.
It was not long before the Flowers showed cracks within their gameplay. An unalert Flowers defender was robbed by Suffian just outside the penalty box and Suffian showed no mercy by putting the ball past a helpless keeper. The Flowers were stunned and struggled to put up anything else in the first half. MFC had several other chances to score more; an Alex free kick went just wide of the post.
Going into half time, the score was 1-0 to MFC and sensing that Little Flowers were there for the taking, MFC reverted to a 3-1-4-2 formation. This proved to be the downfall of MFC in the second half as Little Flowers pushed harder with more men forward. Playing wide, MFC's 3 centre defenders could not cover the grounds fast enough. What's more, MFC's 5 man midfield was non existent as Little Flowers played through the midfield unchallenged at times.
It was through a defensive error that did MFC in for the first goal. With a Flowers player coming in from the left flank, Zhar was drawn out to the flanks to take him on but the player was too fast as he went past Zhar. With no other defenders in the way and the shot in sight, Gerald's last ditch attempt to stop the Flowers player went wrong as the Flowers player fell over. The referee blew for a penalty which was duly dispatched for the equalizer.
After the goal, MFC tried hard to get back into the match but the Little Flowers were tight in their defence and midfield. More often, MFC was on the back foot, trying to stop Little Flower's attacks. The winner for Little Flowers would soon come, amidst plenty of controvesy.
During a Flowers attack, they had the chance to score into the open goal but thanks to Walter and Calvin's bravery, the ball was cleared out to the right flank. Calvin, in return, got kicked in the head by a Flowers player and after the referee blew for game stoppage, a Flowers winger continued to chase the loose ball. Gerald's 50-50 tackle which saw the Flowers player upended was noted by the referee even though the gameplay should have been stopped. Instead of awarding a freekick to MFC for the kick to Calvin's head, the referee gave a direct freekick, which should have been an indirect freekick, to Little Flowers instead.
The resulting freekick was a good one, as it slipped through MFC keeper Gary's arms. Little Flowers cheered for the skies as they celebrated their goal. MFC tried to get back and had a legitimate penalty call when Norris was kicked in the face by a Flowers defender's high boot in the penalty box. The referee, in all his fairness, did nothing.
There was no further action to the match as the Flowers decided to sit back, play out the time, which including bringing the ball to the corner flag. As the final whistle blew, it was good value for the Flowers who lost to MFC in the first leg when they scored an own goal and conceded a penalty. They were the slightly better team, with an inconsistent referee in charge of the match.
With 2 more games left, MFC will be looking to regroup and get the remaining wins. This match should serve as a wake up call to MFC to play better in the next matches.
High Points
1) Suffian was a constant threat to Little Flowers defence as they were caught out a few times by him.
2) MFC's first half was good as the Flowers were restricted to nothing
Low Points
1) Paying for inconsistent refereeing- does he even know the difference between a direct and indirect freekick? His post match comments also showed that he was biased towards the Little Flowers. A referee should be neutral at all times.
2) Little Flowers' sidelines vocal support was tremendously effective in seeking a fight. It was just the sort of trash talking that started many football fights between other teams. It was good that MFC did not stoop to the low they were at.
3) A Flowers' player comment: "Go blog about this". We are happy to have visitors who like to spend time at our blog and help us achieve more webpage views to make our blog popular. We welcome you to share your blog with us too, that is if you have one. If you intend to leave a message on our chat box, do leave your real name so that your comments can be credible. We have had many cowards who post rubbish in the past.
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