Match Review by Howard
Man of the Match: Hakim
With the memories of the previous match fresh in the team's minds, the team was fired up for our league encounter with K1K. The first time we faced them was before the league started and that ended in a 3-3 draw. This coupled with the fact that our opponents were on a 2 match losing streak meant that we were hoping to heap further misery on them.
With regular Captains Gerald and Walter not in Singapore, Augustine took over the team today and had a large selection of players to choose from. Maestros started with a 4-3-3 formation with Randal in goal; Howard Alan Big Eric and Small Eric in defence;Augustine Hanrong and Hakim in midfield and the holy trinitiy of Rong An, Norris and Guo Xian forming the attack. With the sweltering heat beating down on all the players in Coral Secondary, it was important for everyone to hydrate themselves and pace themselves. Apparently, star forward Rong An did not read the script and from kick off went on a run into the opposing half and took a shot at goal.
From the off, it was clear that the f-ing refree was either totally f-ing blind or f-ing biased towards K1K. I believe it was more towards the latter as his assistants were also in on the act. However, MOST of the Maestros players did not let that affect them and went on putting pressure on their opponents and continuing with the game plan. The first goal of the game came when Rong An took a free kick 25 yards away from goal and it went through the wall and rebounded off the scrambling goalkeeper for Hakim to tap into an open goal. 1-0!!
The game went on without much incident, with both teams resolute in defence and cancelling each other out. Midway through the first half, a K1K player took the ball between the 2 Erics and decided to “ draw the foul” by falling down theatrically. Despite getting the ball, the refree gave the penalty against Small Eric. This irated the Maestros players a great deal as it was obvious to all that there was no foul. Howard in particular could not contain his disgust at the decision and continued remonstrating with the f-king refree and got a yellow card for his efforts. Karma decided to rear its ugly head against K1K with Randal saving the penalty with his foot and away to safety.The second goal of the game came soon after when a long ball over the Maestros defence allowed a K1K player to steal in and finish calmly past Randal despite the defence's last-minute lunges. 1-1 =( Soon after the first half ended.
The second half started with Maestros deciding to adopt our conventional 4-5-1 to counter the pressure put on the defence by the opposing midfield. The game became more balanced with the 2 midfields cancelling each other out and the Maestros defence of Karthik, Norris, Big Eric and Small Eric stellar in cutting out any through balls to the K1K fowards. Abi made a few good runs into the opposing wing and on a couple of occasions combined well with the overlapping Karthik. Alan also did well in a defensive/box-to-box midfielder and almost scored when he was put through by Nikesh and his shot inches from finding the bottom corner. At this point in time, Maestros upped the pressure on K1K's defence and soon got their just rewards. A deep corner from Hakim found its way to Rong An on the left wing who crossed it into the box. A few rebounds later and the ball fell to Hakim inside the 6 yard box. With the K1K defence playing him onside, Hakim finished inside the goalkeeper's near post with his weaker right foot. 2-1 Maestros!!
The game was slowly caming to an end with both teams getting affected by the heat today. A few Maestros players were getting hurt by the opponents challenges and some sprains occured. In particular, the fat (obese/ swollen/ overnourished) K1K player was using his fats (soft muscles/ belly/ padding/ insulation/ cellulite) to knock over the quicker Maestros players. But yet again, the whistles for the fouls were not forthcoming from the f-ing refree. So what to do?? At this point, the Maestros bench noticed that the some of the opponents were not wearing the jersey of the K1K team and were hence wondering if they were indeed registered players. This matter would be pending investigation when Gerald and Walter returns.
The last goal of the game came when a long ball over the top allowed an offside? K1K player to nip the ball off Randal's hands and tap into an open net. Maestros just needed to score again with Rong An again getting close, drawing saves from the keeper with his trademark howitzers from range. Alas, the final whistle blew with the final score at 2-2 with little time for Maestros to score another goal. Another game unbeaten for the BEEs!! =)
Positives:
- Maestros players not giving up despite the heat
- Defence did its part on cutting through balls to their attackers.
- Midfield put in a lot of running as well to pressure the opposing midfield
- Thanks to Augustine for putting in so much passion and effort into organizing the 2 games
- Hakim on a brace (When you wanna get hat-trick bro??)
Negatives:
- Refree. Enough said
- Norris and Guo Xian getting injured
- Heat from the sun made running tiring for most
- Two points dropped
- Howard's unnecessary yellow card (Sorry guys!! I had to do it )
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