Final Score: MFC 4 : 2 1987 FC (Alex 2, Afiq 1, Augustine 1)
MFC's opponents today were young- perhaps born in 1987 and from the looks of their team, they seemed like a makeshift team and a rout looked to be on the cards. But it is teams like 1987 FC that will teach MFC the importance of not underestimating opponents, as today's match proceedings proved that MFC will still need to learn that.
The turnout for MFC was good, with 18 players in total. MFC started the game well and quickly strolled to a 2-0 lead from Afiq and Alex. Complacency then crept in slowly as 1987 FC started to finding their bearings and put MFC on the back foot on various occasions. They scored too, with MFC defence failing to clear a routine low cross, leaving a 1987 player to poke the ball past keeper Norris.
There were some neat interplay in the first half but with everyone soon pushing upfront, no one seemed willing to defend and 1987 FC took advantage of this quite well. MFC lacked the team discipline to maintain the 4-5-1 formation and the ball possession and it allowed 1987 FC to improve quickly as the minutes went by.
In the second half, MFC reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Rong An and Guo Xian upfront but it was to no avail. The players were getting impatient and wanted to score more but with no more team work or communication, MFC's attacks went astray most of the time. 1987 FC got their equalizer soon after when Wee Hian miscleared the ball into MFC's own goal. By now, alarm bells must have been ringing in the minds of the MFC players.
As the players became more desperate, tempers flared on the pitch. On one occasion, Lil Eric was sent off for abusing the referee when he failed to spot a foul on Lil Eric. Rong An was also physically confronted for a tackle that he executed fairly and both teams almost came to blows. Thank goodness common sense prevailed as both teams carried on playing.
MFC got the lead when the referee gave a penalty for what seemed like a handball. Alex duly put it away for his second goal of the game. Augustine then wrapped up the victory by scoring from a corner set piece. 4-2 to MFC was the final score.
Though the victory was earned, MFC almost lost to lesser opponents because of complacency and failure to observe tactical formation discipline. Everyone was playing more as individuals and though it could be attributed to the desperation faced when 1987 FC got their equalizer, stronger teams would have further punished MFC for the lack of tactical discipline. This is a point which MFC will need to strengthen in future.
High Points
1) A first victory after 2 defeats.
2) Good turnout, with 18 players in total.
3) GOod restraint shown by ROng An when he was physically confronted by the opponent.
Low Points
1) The referee was a comic throughout the match and he failed to control the match with his dubious and indecisive decisions.
2) MFC failed to play as a cohesive team today. Gameplay was scrappy throughout.
3) MFC players need to think for team mates who have had little playing time.
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