Bukit Batok, Singapore
A match full of referee's bad decision and turf malfunction. It's a friendly rivalry as City takes on West Eminence with new fresh faces in the team. It's not the golden oldies but a team consist of veterans and new young blood. City has only 12 players at the start of the game. With Airul and Alang missing, City was left with no striker upfront and that did not help with vice captain, Safiuddin turning up late.
City started the match deploying
4-3-2-1 formation. Xavier start at right back, Charlie and Stanton at central back and Jelson who recently signed contract extension with City starts on the left. Zaini started on the right Sufiyan at centre and Eizzul found himself on the left. Two attacking midfield saw Indra with Hakim supporting lone striker Tam upfront. With no sight of Safiuddin, Coach Ridwan decided to play goalkeeper. Eminence started off well with the new additions mesmerizing City defence with short and long passes. And in the 3rd minute, a defence splitting pass saw Eminence striker pacing down the penalty box, outcomes Ridwan, the striker shoots a low shot under Ridwan but was relieved to see the shot off target.
Then soon after, Safiuddin arrived for the match but only manage to watch from the bench as Eminence take the lead. This time the pitch plays a part in the goal. Eminence plays a good through ball, Ridwan rush out from the penalty box to clear the ball but a bump on the turf takes the ball off from Ridwan's swinging leg and Eminence striker scores with an easy tap in. 1-0 to Eminence.
With that goal, City pressed on. Indra and Hakim showed good understanding with stray of passes between them. Sufiyan marshall the midfield well and the partnership of Charlie and Stanton at the heart of defence overcome every single Eminence attack but failed to turn every successful defending to attack. Safiuddin then replace Ridwan in goal and City looks confident with the custodian back in goal.
Ridwan then began to direct his tactics and spur the players on by the dugout but City did not create chances. Soon after, City won a freekick but Indra's shot was too high. The Eminence midfield controlled the middle of the park but their striker was a let down as they failed to add to their tally with string of misses.
10 mins to half time, City was given a lifeline when top scorer Airul appeared. It was quite a surprise as he was supposed to be out. He then put on the last minute withdrawal of player, Hafiz's number 24 jersey and warmed up. The referee then blew the whistle for halftime.
Second half saw changes. Zaini was brought off for the oncoming Airul and Faizal replaced Eizzul with City reverting to 4-3-1-2 formation.
4 mins after kickoff, City had a chance wasted, Airul dribble past few defenders only to shoot wide. City pressed on, with Hakim, Indra, Faizal exchanging good quality passes, the eminence defence suffocates City attack to prevent the ball getting to Airul and Tam. Another boost for City as Yus came together with the injured Yusuf.
City coach then bring himself on for Jelson and played an attacking 3-4-1-2 formation. With that, Eminence took control and with a good through ball, Eminence striker loobs the ball over Safiuddin to make the score 2-0 to Eminence with time left to spare.
City did not given up, Indra played at centre back pushing Charlie to the right back. Yus then came on for the worn-off Sufiyan and took the left midfield as Ridwan played behind the hole. Faizal took defensive mid while Hakim was on the right wing role.
Hakim nearly turn provider, receiving a pass from Charlie, the talismanic player skips past a defender and with no room to shoot, he lays to Ridwan who shoots it just over. City then pulled a goal back. A shot from Airul was deflected for a corner, upsteps captain Charlie as he send yet another trademark inswing corner to pull a goal back for City. 2-1. City searched for an equaliser. Airul tormenting the defence since he came on drawing fouls from Eminence defenders. He then got an opportunity to shoot, fakes and lays to unmarked Ridwan instead but yet again the City's coach put it over the bar.
Indra then kills every single of Eminence attack which shows his strength and aerial abilities.
Then City equalised, referee did not award City a penalty after Airul was brought down by 2 players, Yus played by the referee's whistle and sends an audacious curler giving Eminence goalkeeper no chance with 10 mins left on the clock.
As City searched for a winner, Eminence counter attack left the striker with only Safiuddin to beat but Xavier make an excellent last ditch tackle to prevent Eminence from scoring. Great display of awareness. City then had a final chance, a freekick. Airul took it first but referee ask it to be retaken twice. Indra then steps up but send it high over the crossbar. That was the final kick of the game as referee ends the match.
City coach commented,"First of all we would like congratulate Teban Thunder for winning the title with games to spare. We would also like to thank West Eminence for the wonderful friendly rivalry which we hope to see. We were unlucky in a couple of situation and hope that with the 8-5 drubbing if Vietnam United by Teban Thunder, we will escape playoff game. With cup run against MYK this weekend and the Silver Titans game on 17th February, we hope that Vietnam will drop points and pray that we will automatically secure promotion. The guys was good and showed their fighting spirit wanting to get something of every game. They did it today and I'm proud of them"
When asked about the rumored players leaving, he added,"I can't say much but if they player decides to leave the club end of season, I can only convince then to stay. The decision is in their hands and I can't force them to stay. If they do leave, I would have to search for new players before the season starts in march."
