Classic Sng!

REPORTED BY KEN WONG

Full Time: ODS 4 - 1 SGX(Half time: 1 - 1)
Scorers: Cheen Meng (x02), Mr Sng(x02)
Man Of Match: Mr Sng

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Starting Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Dennis, Vincent, Kiran, Ken Wong
Mid[L-R]: Kim Chuan, Mark Penu, Aidil, Cheen Meng
Striker: Liang Han, Gary

The opponents were probably much younger than the average age of ODS players. The average age of SGX was probably 28. But this definitely brought up the standard of ODS who was constantly kept on their toes for the opening stages of the game.

Ken Wong was kept extremely busy, man-marking someone who resembles Liang Han. The opponent used his arms and body to shove, push, and bulldoze this way around. Very often, he would twist and turn, and Ken Wong was punished a couple of times, struggling to keep up with the pace of the opponent.
Thankfully, Kiran was always behind to cover him.

Kiran too, had his fair share of being manhandled. Someone who stuck his elbow in Kiran's face, much to Kiran's disgust.
He even told Kiran that he was too old to be playing football. But Kiran shut him up with his ball reading skills and limited his space the moment he got near the penalty area.

ODS was having their own problem trying to break down their defence too. Our twin (towers) strikers were not tall enough to compete for the crosses, and often lost the headers.

The opponents were trying to expose the space behind ODS defence with their long ball. But Ken Wong and Vincent put their heads to good use, cutting out many crosses.

ODS finally made the breakthrough, when Cheen Meng did his trademark run, that dazzled the opponents. A one-two, and Cheen Meng broke loose, shooting just inside the penalty area, but his shot was parried by the keeper. The opponents did not managed to cross the ball, and Liang Han was there to hassle, and the ball was squared back to Cheen Meng who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

1--0

ODS's lead was shortlived as the opponents equalised shortly after.
A corner kick was awarded to them. The ball was sent in just outside the six yard box and a free header was allowed. Ken Wong who was at the far post jumped to head the ball, and so did Kee Yong. Both of them went for the same ball and clashed, allowing the ball to drop behind them into the goal.

1-1

Another beautiful display of skills by Cheen Meng left the defenders chasing his shadow. One on one with the keeper, he went for the near post. He had the keeper beaten, but the post denied him his second goal as the ball rebounded out, much to the relief of the keeper.

Both teams were getting frustrated with the missed chances and perhaps also the physical play. One bearded opponent was booked for blocking and preventing Kee Yong from releasing the ball. Kee Yong run into him using his elbow to push him away. The referee blew, and shown the yellow card to the opponent. (The referee had often turned his back too early, and missed a few other times when the opponents were trying to prevent Kee Yong from releasing a throw for a quick attack, until Ken Wong politely alerted the referee of the opponents' actions.)

Next, a freekick was awarded inside ODS's half. Kiran took the freekick and kick it directly into the bearded opponent who was less than 10yards away. (I think he was trying to get this fellow sent off.)
But the referee allowed play to carry on as the ball went out for a throw-in.

Both sides failed to break the deadlock for the remainder of the first half as the opponents were limited to shots from far, that hardly troubled safe-hands Kee Yong and ODS was wasteful on a few occasions.

2nd Half Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Tony, Mark Penu, Aidil, Ken Wong
Mid[L-R]: Kim Chuan, Gary, Irwin, Cheen Meng
Striker: Mr Sng, Liang Han

At half time, Kiran and Vincent ABANDONED the team and went off to celebrate Kiran's daughter's birthday. And left only ONE substitute on the bench.

ODS took the kick off. Liang Han pushed the ball for speedy Cheen Meng to race onto it. He met the ball, and sent a cross in, but the ball was cleared.

Ken Wong was then substituted for Dennis.

Mr Sng and Liang Han partnership proved lethal. With Liang Han being the provider, and Mr Sng the finisher.
Mr Sng's calmness and clinical finish was all that matter. The keeper could only watch in pain, as the ball rolled slowly beyond his fingertips and past him into the goal.

2-1

The opponents got impatient, crossing hopeful balls into ODS half. But ODS maturity and experience got the better of the opponents. Even Tony was a step ahead of the Liang-Han-mirrorred-imaged-opponent who was probably only half his age.

Mr Sng extend the lead for ODS, when a backpass was poorly controlled by the keeper. Mr Sng was quick to react, stealing the ball from the keeper and finished the job with a cool tap into an empty net.

3-1

Mr Sng would then substituted himself out, having done his job.
Ken Wong went in as a striker.

Shortly after the restart, Liang Han managed to muscle his way through 2markers and unselfishly laid the ball across to Ken Wong on the edge of the box. But Ken Wong, a pale form of himself as compared to last season, was not confident enough to shoot, and instead returned the ball to Liang Han, wasting a glorious chance to extend the lead even further. Liang Han, who was really tired after all the wrestling, was tackled.

Next, Cheen Meng was given the space to run at goal. He too, squared the ball for Ken Wong who was racing towards the far post. Ken Wong was just a little too slow, either that or his legs were not long enough to reach the ball. He did keep the ball in play, and delivered cross to Cheen Meng, but Cheen Meng could only manged to head it towards Liang Han who responded with a half volley. The ball was deflected and went into the arms of the keeper.

Cheen Meng got his second goal, when Dennis played a beautiful through ball for him. Cheen Meng turned on his turbo and the opponents were no match for his pace. Cheen Meng finished off the job in style.

4-1

Game ended shortly after this.