REPORTED BY KEN WONG

Full Time: ODS 5 - 4 NUS Medical Team (Half time: 1 - 1)
Scorers: Liang Han (x02), Gary (x02), Mr Sng (x01)
Man Of Match: Cheen Ming

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Starting Line-Up
GK: Kumar
Def[L-R]: Tony, Mark Penu, Hans, Dennis
Mid[L-R]: Ken Wong, Mark Teo, Melvin, Gary
Striker: Liang Han, Elango

The "first leg" of this match-up earlier in February 2009 saw ODS lose 1-0.
ODS looks to bounce back from last week humilating defeat, with Mark Penu and Hans returning as the centre pair in the heart of defence.

ODS started the game with a lot of fire. Gary missed a chance early on when Ken Wong delivered an in-swinging cross from the left over the defence. Gary latches onto the ball but his poor first touch kicked the ball over the line for a goal kick.

ODS continued their pressure. Liang Han spotted Gary's run down the right and gave a well-weighed ball into his path. Gary took the first time shot and put ODS in the lead.

1-0

The young opponents retaliated by increasing their tempo and the diagonal cross for their wingers to chase which created a lot of troubles for our fullbacks.

Soon, a bad decision by the referee, a ball which has already gone out of play, but the referee allowed play to go on, and a quick break by the opponents caught ODS defence very exposed. The speedy winger brought the ball to the byline before cutting it back across goal. The striker managed to use his speed to break loose of this marker Dennis to tap in at the far post.

1-1

Kumar kept us in the game with his big palms to stop a couple of shots.
Mark Penu and Hans functioned like a solid wall that stopped even flies from getting past them while Mark Teo marshalled the midfield and destroyed the opponent's rhythm.

2nd Half Line-Up
GK: Dennis
Def[L-R]: Chee Mun, Mark Penu, Hans, Seah Kiam Meng
Mid[L-R]: Osman, Mark Teo, Liang Han, Kee Yong
Striker: Mr Sng, Cheen Meng

According to some of ODS players who were sitting by the side during the second half, they claimed that the opponents, depsite being much younger, actually looked tired in the second half, presumably because the ODS players in the first half did very well to wear them out.

Within 5minutes of the restart, a long clearance from Hans found Liang Han who turned his marker and dedicately lifted the ball over the on-rushing keeper to put us back in the lead.

2-1

At this point, the opponents found it really hard to keep up to the pace of Cheen Meng the Turbo. His change of pace often left his marker chasing his shadow. He should have gotten his name on the scoresheet after beating the defence, but his shots are just inches wide of the post.

Liang Han put ODS in the driving seat with his second of the day. After a shot by Kee Yong, the ball was deflected to Liang Han who volleyed it into the roof of the net.

3-1

At 3-1 up, it should have been a routine for ODS to wrap up the game. But a series of misses punished ODS at the back. Liang Han and Mr Sng should have converted the chances when Cheen Meng's pass across goal found Liang Han, but Liang Han wants to play the gentleman and left the ball for Mr Sng who wasn't expecting the ball to reach him. This not only happened once, but twice, almost the same, just like a playback/replay.

Instead, the younger counterparts still has some tricks up their sleeves. They fought back well, first with a shot that just lobbed Dennis.

3-2

Next, another bad decision by the referee, Osman clearly kept the ball in play, but the referee awarded a throw-in to the opponents. Yet another counter attack, ODS defence were caught ball watching this time with no one wanting to go in for the challenge. The opponent was allowed time and space to pick his spot and a well taken shot beat Dennis yet again, this time at the top left corner.

3-3

The game was far from over.

This time, a weak header from Mark Penu gifted the ball back to the opponent. Next to come was a shot from 20yards out that caught Dennis off his line.

3-4

With that, Dennis took himself out of the game. In went Kee Yong into goal, while Melvin took his position in right midfield.

Mr Sng should have equalised for ODS when he rounded the keeper brilliantly following a through ball provided by Cheen Meng. However, with the goal at his mercy, he tripped and fell, and missed the shot. This left the bench screaming and shaking their heads in disbelief.

Ever so often, ODS needs a wake up call, a kick in their face before they turned on their style.
Cheen Meng provided the inspiration yet again. He showed why he should be considered a serious contender for player/midfielder of the year when he created the space and chance out of nothing, dribbling his way down the left before cutting the ball to the right.
Gary was there to turn it into goal for his second of the game and his eighth of the season.

4-4

Mr Sng would atone for his earlier miss when he provided the winner. A shot from Osman came off the post and Mr Sng was first to react to put the rebound into goal.
After the game, Mr Sng claimed that as a top striker, he anticipated the shot to come off the post, which is why he was first to react.

5-4

With barely a few minutes left on the clock, Liang Han and Mr Sng took their exit for Elango and Ken Wong.

Game ended soon after the change.