TeckWood United

REPORTED BY KEN WONG

Full Time Score: ODS 2 - 2 Teckwood United (Half Time: 0 - 2)
Scorers: Rezal (x02)
Man Of Match: Rezal
Yellow Cards: Hairy, Ken Wong, (I'm not too sure if Seah Kiam Meng got one too)

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Starting Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Dennis, Hans, Rosk, Tony
Mid[L-R]: Chee Mun, Mark Penu, Faisal, Ken Wong
Striker: Rezal, Hairy

Three games. Yet another lacklustre performance by ODS. Still no victory.

Against a very physical, almost to the extent of dirty, team, and one that comes with at least ten substitutes, it was expected that the game will turn ugly at some point of time. Especially so when it has happened in our last contest, a fierce one, which ended 4-4. (view report here)

The game begun with less than five players on the bench for ODS, after seeing ten substitues for the previous two games, and several key players were missing, Osman and Liang Han just to name two.

With strong winds blowing in ODS direction, somehow, that seemed to have some effect as ODS were struggling to get the ball out of their own half.
The passes were not connecting, ODS kept losing the ball in midfield, there was no creativity, no penatration.
ODS barely had a shot on goal, but the defence were constantly pressured at the back. Before long, Dennis who had just returned from injury(or was it MIA/AWOL) decided he had enough, and in comes Mark Teo, pushing Chee Mun to left back, Hairy to left midfield, and Faisal support Rezal who is now playing as a lone striker.

Everything was business as usual, not much threats from both side, until a long throw in by the opponents from the right. The thrower aimed for the only baldie ang mo in the pitch. And the baldie managed to out muscle two defenders who were on him, and got his shiny head to the ball. He flicked it onto the far post where his team mate was waiting to pounce. Left totally unmarked, he scored with an easy header.

0-1

Not to be discouraged by this setback, ODS restarted the game in high spirits. But the referee decided to make his presence known, penalising the opponent for moving too early before the kick was made for the restart.
Subsequently, he got very particular about the throw-ins. Not one inch too far from the spot where the ball went out, otherwise, he would order a retake. There were many of such incidents thoughout the game.

ODS were still struggling to find their form. Despite having the "animal" Rezal back, there was little he could do with not enough service to him.

ODS hardly recorded a shot on target in the first half.

The opponents then extended their lead, from a quick freekick that was taken just outside the edge of the box near the goal line. Caught totally unprepared, ODS conceded another goal, another unmarked header at the far post.

Chee Mun injured himself in the process and had to be taken off. Yang Song assumed his position at left defence - subsequently exchanging the position with hairy.

0-2

With the tensions rising, and tackles coming in from all directions, the game was often spoiled by the stoppages.

Tony took his exit and Kiam Meng took his spot at right back.

With both sides doing nothing fantastic for the rest of the half, ODS trailed two goals going into half time.

2nd Half Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Hairy, Kiran, Rosk, Kiam Meng
Mid[L-R]: Yang Song, Mark Teo, Mark Penu, Aidil
Striker: Rezal, Kim Chuan

Second half restarted, with almost the whole of the opponents changed, except for their last man and keeper.

Rezal showed just why he is nicknamed the "animal". A long clearance from Kiran found Rezal. And Rezal was cleverly holding back his marker, allowing the ball to bounce over him. He turned his marker and was through on goal. The keeper rushed out, but Rezal was too good for that and he delicately roll the ball under the keeper into the back of the net.

1-2

Unhappy with conceding a goal, the opponents started their series of wild tackles, with Hairy as the first victim. He was hacked just outside his own penalty area. Hairy was clearly unhappy with the need-less challenge, and he almost did a "Zidance headbutt". But thankfully, he was held back.

Shortly after, ODS got their equaliser through Rezal in what seems to be a goal mouth melee. Initialy Rezak floated a ball to Hairy who headed it back into his path. Somehow the ball went to Mark who powered a header. The header which seemed to be out bound, found Rezak's head who guided the ball over the keeper this time into the net his second goal.

2-2

In what seems to be a reckless and dangerous tackle, one that seemed like the opponent was going in for the player rather than the ball. The opponent was earlier brought down in a hard but legal challenge by Mark Teo. That same opponent went in on Mark Teo, seemingly for revenge for that earlier tackle. As a result, Mark Teo had to be helped off the pitch due to an ankle injury.

Kiam Meng too was taken off as he was beginning to lose his temper at the wild tackles from the opponents.

Ken Wong and Faisal were brought back into the game.

During the closing stages, Ken Wong was booked during one of ODS corners. After checking with the referee after the game, it was for obstructing the goalkeeper. Problem is, how does he obstruct the keeper when he was being held back at the neck by the opponents?

Hairy too was cautioned for a mis-timed tackle from behind. Or rather, he managed to make it look like it was a late challenge.

The final whistle was blown ending an ugly match-up with a blind referee.