Review by Jeramy
Afternoon weather was really scorching hot with a high of 42 degree Celsius. Maestro FC came back to their ‘jinx’ pitch in Khalsa after 2 consecutive good wins over Coast West United and AtlasFC. Even if the big winning margin for the past 2 games, Maestro FC succumb to their fear once again. Sparta Cowboys scored a last minute goals and turned the heat up on Maestro FC promotion chances.
The match started with 4-4-1-1/4-5-1 formation with our stand-in GK: Cedric, with CB: Chris and Norris. DL was Howard and Alwin covering the DR. Wingers started with Augustine and Katik, CM: Gerald and Eugene. Target man was Thomas partnering with Striker Jeramy.
The referee gets the games underway and the game started with many fouls from both team. 6mins into the first half, Sparta Cowboys was awarded a free kick 25metres out. With a left-foot shot, the ball went through Maestro FC wall and approaches the top right corner of the goal post just to be palmed-out by Cedric. Wonderful save and stretched acrobatically!
The corner was well taken by Sparta Cowboys into the box but was headed away by Maestro FC
defenders for a throw-in. Maestro FC began to launch counter-attack after regaining possession but each time, Sparta Cowboys was able to close down quickly our Maestro FC players leading them to give the ball away.
12mins into play, Sparta Cowboys was awarded another free kick outside the box. This time, their Center Midfielder took the shot with a powerful right-leg. The ball went straight into the top half of goal but once again, Cedric was there to tip it over the bar. Another corner to Sparta Cowboys. Sparta Cowboys took the corner well once again but to be cleared away by Alwin. Augustine took a poor first touch and Sparta Cowboys launched a counter-attack but just to be called offside in time.
Play continued with Sparta Cowboys dominating. Their passes were short and accurate with a few direct long balls to their midfielders and strikers. As 20mins approaches, Sparta Cowboys changed tactics and tried to shoot from long. Maestro FC Centre-back Norris realized the situation and began to close down his opponents to prevent them from shooting. After observing a few attacks, Sparta Cowboys changes tactics again and began to attack down their right flanks. Their right midfielder was in good balance and agility to take on Howard and dribbled past him a couple of times before Norris was there to make a tackle to clear the ball.
Maestro FC wasn’t in good shape the first 20mins with a lot of mistakes made and couple of poor first touches. In addition, passes were not made fast enough as Sparta Cowboys closes down on them really quickly. Maestro FC captain, Gerald blew his top as both Wingback defenders and Midfielders are not returning fast enough when they get forward. Luckily for Maestro FC, there is Norris and Chris to cover for their Wingbacks.
Maestro FC was practically quiet up front other than 2 shots made by Thomas. Thomas tried to knock a couple of balls for Katik and Augustine by the wings, but every time, their first touch let the ball loose before being recovered by Sparta Cowboys. A couple of goal kicks were then launched towards Maestro FC strikers but up-front Jeramy is out-experienced in aerial challenges by the Sparta Cowboys.
Maestro FC midfielders were unable to dominate as communication was poor and there was a lack of humour within their midfielders.
22mins, Maestro FC made their 3 changes. Rong An for Jeramy, WeeHian for Howard, Joel for Augustine. Sparta Cowboys were still going strong even though it was their 1 st day of fasting (well, least the water they drank). After observing the game, Rong An took the game to Sparta Cowboys with a couple of long shots just over the bar. The first real chance for Maestro FC came in the half hour mark when target-man Thomas knocked a lovely ball to Joel. With a one-two, Joel got free of his opponent just to shoot off the post. The game began to wind down with a couple of Maestro FC corner kicks. Half-time.
2nd half started with Cedric, Weehian, Norris, Chris, Alwin, Ahbi, Augustine, Gerald, Eugene, homas and Rong An. The game started like it had ended but with only 8 Sparta Cowboys on the field. Maestro FC began to dominate and tried to attack but each attack ended with a goal kick and a throw-in. Sparta Cowboys had substituted their defenders for a few fresh legs and they were doing a good job. 10mins into the 2nd half, Sparta Cowboys brought back their players to 11 and flows of attack were going from one end to another.
However, it was Maestro FC who was looking for the goal as counter-attacks were more efficient as compared to the first half. Rong An beaten his man a couple of times just to led Sparta Cowboys’ GK to sweep the ball. Along the way, he injured his wrist. Unlucky for Maestro FC.
At the hour mark, a good link was found between Thomas, Ahbi and Rong An. A goal kick was launched from Maestro FC towards Thomas who headed to Ahbi. Ahbi whose first touch was impressive, gave a good weighted pass to Rong An, who rounded his man and beat the keeper. Placing his shot, it went... wide! Heart-breaking moments for Maestro FC! They should have scored! Sparta Cowboys began to pull up their socks and went attacking at the other end. Last minute ditches by Norris once again was fruitful as Sparta Cowboys was awarded another corner. Commanding GK Cedric shouts were really impressive as it can be heard from one end of the field to another. The team looked really composed with such good GK on the line.
A quarter past the hour, a counter-attack was launched by Maestro FC but held back by Sparta
Cowboys with a foul outside the box. Rong An blasted it over just a little.
A few minutes later, another counter-attack was launched by Maestro FC but Sparta Cowboys defenders got back really quickly to put the ball out for a corner. The ball came in for Rong An who was waiting in the box and blasted in with a overhead kick just after the referee called for a foul in the box. What a shot! But wasted.
Maestro FC and Sparta Cowboys made their last few substitutions and the games began to flow
really messy.
Nearing the end, Sparta Cowboys began man-mark and pressured Maestro FC, even their defender! Without knowing, Maestro FC lost the ball and Sparta Cowboys launched a counter-attack along the left wing. Commanding GK Cedric did his best to cover his box with Chris closing down on the attacker. But somehow, Sparta Cowboys striker managed to pass a ball into the box and Sparta Cowboys scored with a diving body! How lucky was that!
Rong An restarted the match by blasting the ball off the goal post from the half-way line and the
referee called for an end for full-time.
Sparta Cowboys won but Maestro FC was really unlucky to conceded at the last minute.
- Everyone arrived early
- Even though the weather is hot, no one falls out
- A few good touches in the 2nd half along with counter-attacks
- The defenders are pushing the line up
- Thomas is working his socks off
- Stand-in GK Cedric did many wonderful saves and closing down on loose balls. His commanding voice is appreciated by all.
- Norris and Chris defended really well to keep Maestro FC in play
Bad Points
- The 1st half was really messy, nobody is communicating.
- Fullbacks and Wingers in the 1st half did not drop back fast enough
- Everyone’s first touches need to be improved.
- Quick passing is not observed which led to opponents closed us down really quickly and lose possession.
Talking point for Khalsa
1. Khalsa pitch is small; clearing the balls into the flanks/middle must be fast. (Just like how we played our first game in Pasir Ris if you all remembered)
2. First touches and composures must improved
3. Short passes with everyone coming to get the ball should be done regularly and not just the
midfielders.
4. Shoot on sight is definitely a must as long as you have the chance. Just like Hakkim did for a
couple of times.
5. With these few pointers, let’s break the deadlock again next week!
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