Cheen Ming inspired comeback..

REPORTED BY KEN WONG

Full Time: ODS 3 - 3 MOE(Half time: 0 - 1)
Scorers: Dennis (x01), Gary (x01), Mr Sng (x01)
Man Of Match: Cheen Ming

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Starting Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Dennis, Mark Penu, Hans, Tony
Mid[L-R]: Osman, Mark Teo, Gary, Yang Song
Striker: Kim Chuan, Elango

Being the first day of the fasting month, and under such hot weather, ODS's 5games unbeaten record looks to be under threat. And things were not made any easier with Hairy and Faisal playing for the opposite side.

ODS struggled to cope in the early stages with Faisal being the key man for the opponent and sending crosses from the middle down to the wings for the speedy wingers and strikers to chase.

MOE got the early lead when a cross came in from the right and the striker came in strongly across goal to head into the far post.

0-1

Immediately after conceding the goal, Dennis took himself out bringing in Chee Mun.

ODS won a freekick about 25yards out. Osman did well to curl the ball round the wall forcing the keeper to make a full stretch save.

Following that, Osman pulled himself to play a deeper role in central midfield with Elango as a lone striker and Kim Chuan on left midfield.

With Osman taking up a role that allows him to roam more freely in midfield, there were a few incidents that saw him up against his good friend Hairy. Hairy showed he was no pushover and was not ready to let Osman get past him, therefore there were a lot pushing, shoving, shirt tugging and "punching" involved.

Try as we may, ODS was time and again denied by the heroics of the MOE keeper.
MOE too, were finding it hard to extend their lead with Mark Penu and Hans marshalling at the heart of the defence. And Kee Yong was quick off his line to sweep all the through balls.

Soon, Tony couldn't cope with the pace of the game anymore, especially under the heat. He took his exit for Ken Wong.

Both sides fail to register any real attack worth mentioning for the rest of the half.

2nd Half Line-Up
GK: Kee Yong
Def[L-R]: Chee Mun, Mark Penu, Hans, Ken Wong
Mid[L-R]: Kim Chuan, Mark Teo, Gary, Yang Song
Striker: Dennis, Cheen Meng

The introduction of Cheen Meng at half time added a different dimension to ODS game.
His pace and runs made life extremely difficult for MOE defenders, just ask Hairy.

However, a lapse in concentration at ODS defence allowed a through ball to be squeezed in between Ken Wong and Mark Penu for the striker to toe-poke the ball past Kee Yong.

0-2

The man who would inspire the comeback today was Cheen Meng.
He would initiate counter attacks, running that extra mile to give that option to pass to.

In one attack, he did a return pass to Yang Song, but Yang Song was not anticipating the ball to be played back to him. It seemed like a lost cause with everyone watching the ball roll towards the byline. But Cheen Meng gave chase and kept the ball in play. Not only that, he turned and delivered a cross into the six yards area with Dennis dashing in and meeting the ball with a fierce header that finally beat MOE keeper for the first time today.

1-2

Yang Soon was taken off for Irwin.

ODS should have equalised within a few minutes of Irwin coming on but his shot bounced off the far post.
Hairy was injured in the process when he went in for a challenge.

And having failed to convert the chances, ODS was punished.

MOE won a corner, and some poor man marking allowed the opponent to direct a free header into the back of the net.

1-3

At this stage, ODS's last roll of the dice was to bring in super sub Mr Sng in for Dennis.

ODS continued to battle hard at both ends of the field. But were unlucky not to have scored with Gary missing a volley.

Gary, however, would get his name on the scoresheet.
The move started when MOE cleared the ball from defence. Ken Wong got into a good position to head the ball down for Mark Teo who in turn sent the ball flying towards Kim Chuan. Kim Chuan crossed the ball in to Mr Sng.
Mr Sng shot at goal was blocked, but the ball fell to a delighted Gary who made no mistake this time scoring from six yards out.

2-3

Kee Yong pulled off some fine saves to keep ODS hopes alive.

Next, we have Kumar, who just recovered from an operation, replacing Kee Yong.
Kumar was called into action almost immediately when a couple of shots coming in from far that he did well to palm away.

ODS turned on the heat and applied more pressure on the attacks.
In a flowing move, that saw the ball switched from the left to the middle and attacking full back Ken Wong racing down the wings, Irwin released the ball to the right. Ken Wong upon receiving the ball, "bend it like Beckham (or BecKEN)" to the far post where Mr Sng executed a aecrobatic volley in the air that "lobbed" the keeper for the well deserved equaliser.

3-3

With that, Ken Wong made his way for Tony.
Shortly after that, Mr Sng came off and urged Elango to go in to find the winner.
But all Elango received was the full time whistle.

Great game, great comeback.