Sunday, July 31, 2005
Match Review 1
Match 1, Winter Season, vs BHS Utd
On a freezing cold Sunday night, it was time for the first game of the season. Like all new seasons, enthusiasm and excitement was abuzz prematch. Particularly with exams being finished but more the fact that the team had discussed at length at the end of a dismal previous season that we had to start kicking some ass. For a team that nearly won the wooden spoon in division 1, we could honestly say without any bias that we came close and probably played better than most of the teams in our division. So much talent but nothing to show for it. And it was time the sleeping giant roused from its slumber and staked a claim for promotion and success in the top flight. Previous bad blood between the team (actually mainly Quoc against BHS Utd) should've been the catalyst for an annihilation of this substandard opposition.
From kick off, it was clear we forgot the number one cardinal rule in sport, never take your opposition lightly. Even though they lacked our touch and skills on ball, it was clear BHS Utd were more organised, flooding their defence and only attacking when we committed too many forward. In fact, the positions and plans that were promised fell through the door, with players running anywhere they pleased. This dangerous play ultimately gave us the rudest of all wake up calls when BHS Utd struck first blood with a one-on-one situation with Derek that left him no chance.
Dispirited, our attackers failed to break their defence because no one was running into space. Attackers not making the positions for a pass but standing behind defenders was suicide and we turned over the ball too many times when they rushed the player on the ball. Dave did some nice runs to get past some BHS opponents but he had little help to lay off the ball. Sanji tried to run into space and passed some nicely flighted long balls. Simon was the best player of the half, continually running and putting plenty of pressure in midfield. By halftime, the situation was better but we hadn't expected the game to be tough like this.
We clearly lacked any answers to their tracking back and it showed when Dave was booked for dissent and Quoc starting to take it out on their defender by pushing and some dirty play. We had grinded out a 2-1 lead but based on the play, we didn't deserve it. Like the first half, there was too much rushing to score but little running into space to spread their defence. One instance where all players on field ran in a line across the field exposed us at the back and errand passing led to two nearly 1-1 on situations with the goalie that they capitalised on. Out of nowhere, we were losing 2-3 to a team that should have been cannon fodder for the night.
Falling behind with less than 5 minutes left seem to hurt some of our pride and the players fired up but the play was still sloppy. No players up front were running into space and the ball was being lost too easily. Henry had threatened all game with numerous missed chances but redeemed himself with a composed finished to bring the scores level. BHS Utd at this point seemed to retract into their shells and went about defending for dear life where as we pushed forward for the win. Continual pressure eventually led to a scramble in front of goals, with Quoc fortuituosly running into Simon, who was pushed into the right spot to head the ball home for the winner.
Running into space, showing heart and a designated defender are the simple things that need to be rectified soon.
Scoreline: 4-3
Goals: Sanji, Quoc, Henry, Simon
Man of the match: Simon
On a freezing cold Sunday night, it was time for the first game of the season. Like all new seasons, enthusiasm and excitement was abuzz prematch. Particularly with exams being finished but more the fact that the team had discussed at length at the end of a dismal previous season that we had to start kicking some ass. For a team that nearly won the wooden spoon in division 1, we could honestly say without any bias that we came close and probably played better than most of the teams in our division. So much talent but nothing to show for it. And it was time the sleeping giant roused from its slumber and staked a claim for promotion and success in the top flight. Previous bad blood between the team (actually mainly Quoc against BHS Utd) should've been the catalyst for an annihilation of this substandard opposition.
From kick off, it was clear we forgot the number one cardinal rule in sport, never take your opposition lightly. Even though they lacked our touch and skills on ball, it was clear BHS Utd were more organised, flooding their defence and only attacking when we committed too many forward. In fact, the positions and plans that were promised fell through the door, with players running anywhere they pleased. This dangerous play ultimately gave us the rudest of all wake up calls when BHS Utd struck first blood with a one-on-one situation with Derek that left him no chance.
Dispirited, our attackers failed to break their defence because no one was running into space. Attackers not making the positions for a pass but standing behind defenders was suicide and we turned over the ball too many times when they rushed the player on the ball. Dave did some nice runs to get past some BHS opponents but he had little help to lay off the ball. Sanji tried to run into space and passed some nicely flighted long balls. Simon was the best player of the half, continually running and putting plenty of pressure in midfield. By halftime, the situation was better but we hadn't expected the game to be tough like this.
We clearly lacked any answers to their tracking back and it showed when Dave was booked for dissent and Quoc starting to take it out on their defender by pushing and some dirty play. We had grinded out a 2-1 lead but based on the play, we didn't deserve it. Like the first half, there was too much rushing to score but little running into space to spread their defence. One instance where all players on field ran in a line across the field exposed us at the back and errand passing led to two nearly 1-1 on situations with the goalie that they capitalised on. Out of nowhere, we were losing 2-3 to a team that should have been cannon fodder for the night.
Falling behind with less than 5 minutes left seem to hurt some of our pride and the players fired up but the play was still sloppy. No players up front were running into space and the ball was being lost too easily. Henry had threatened all game with numerous missed chances but redeemed himself with a composed finished to bring the scores level. BHS Utd at this point seemed to retract into their shells and went about defending for dear life where as we pushed forward for the win. Continual pressure eventually led to a scramble in front of goals, with Quoc fortuituosly running into Simon, who was pushed into the right spot to head the ball home for the winner.
Running into space, showing heart and a designated defender are the simple things that need to be rectified soon.
Scoreline: 4-3
Goals: Sanji, Quoc, Henry, Simon
Man of the match: Simon
# posted by Chops @ 10:46 pm 
