Friday, July 18, 2008
Today... Had school as per normal... Then after Friday Prayers, went to Sports School to challenge the U-14 team that will be representing Singapore in the Youth Olympics. The VS team were all Sec 3s. It was a match that heightens the bond between us and forges an understanding that can change the tables of fortunes around. The VS team consisted of 13 Sec 3s, of which there will be a substitute outfield player and a substitute keeper during the game. There were 4 defenders, 2 keepers, 1 striker and 6 midfielders in our team. I played at right-back.
We started off with a bang, hanging on to possession and creating chances here and there. Dilip, our midfielder, scored 20 minutes after the start. He received the ball, looked up to see acres of space in front of him, and lobbed the keeper with a delightful shot which brushed the crossbar on its way in. But a few minutes later, their striker equalized with a shot from an angle which managed to evade our keeper. We reatained our lead near the end of the first half, with Dilip giving Ryson a inch-perfect through pass, who then took a shot with the perfect mix of power and accuracy into the bottom corner. My performance during the first half was average. But i managed to put in a good performance in the second half.
In the second half, i played the ball to another player rather than clearing it with everything i have, how i used to do. Though i made some mistakes, one which almost leaded into a goal, i found my performace better.
During the last few minutes of the match, our keeper caught the ball and quickly played it to our last man who drifted of to the right. I saw space along the middle where i can run and ask for the ball, which i did. Out last man passed the ball to me, i first-touch pass to our midfielder and then continued my run down the middle. Just as i was going to reach the opponents penalty box, i felt the muscle in my claves tightening. Ryson crossed the ball, but it went over my head and was too high for me to reach. The ball sailed over me and our left-midfielder, Jordon, headed the ball to me. I headed it away into space then trapped the ball. When i trapped the ball, i knew that my calves were going to cramp up, so i took every last ounce of strength i had to toepoke the ball to Ryson, then lay down on the floor with double cramps on my calves. I was at the edge of the penalty box. I couldn't carry on playing and was brought out of the game. It was my first time getting cramps during a soccer game, furthermore, it was while i was doing a rare run to the opponents third. So i found it quite hilarious.
Final Score: 2-1. We won...
Izz...
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Victoria School B' Division Soccer Team... Our potential was recognizable from the start of the tournament... Despite facing tough challenges from teams such as St' Gabriels, Ang Mo Kio and Kent Ridge... We managed to attain a convincing qualification to the semi-finals... We topped our quarter final group, with three wins out of three...
We faced arch-rivals Greenview in the semi-finals. We had played them two times before this year. Twice in the East Zone tournament. And now the third time at the Nationals... We first faced them at our quarter-finals group stage for the East Zone... And we drew 1-1. We then faced them again during the East Zone Finals... We drew 1-1 again... But lost to them at penalties... Now, we face them at a bigger stage... The Nationals semi-finals... We played a good game. But were unlucky to concede a goal midway through the first half. We were encouraged by our coaches and started of well at the start of the second half. But we conceded another goal 5 minutes into the second half.
We were 2-0 down and had 15 minutes left to play. A defensive lapse by the Greenview defender and a smart move by our striker brought us a goal back. We were 2-1 down and had eight minutes to play... Our dynamic midfielder, Dilip, dribbled the ball with 4 Greenview players on him. One of them put in a tackle and caught Dilip's leg. Dilip fell and we received a free kick near the edge of the penalty area. Dilip went up to take the free kick. The Greenview wall was poorly positioned, and so was their keeper. Dilip ran up and smashed home a beauty of a free kick into the net. How we celebrated. Our coach who was treating one of our injured player on the floor jumped on him and hugged him. We were simply jubilant. The game was brought into extra time then into penalties. For the players who experienced the East Zone Finals defeat to Greenview through penalties, they felt immense pressure.
We celebrated when our first kicker scored. And when our second kicker missed, some of our players broke down, dreading that they might lose again at such a crucial stage. But we celebrated when our keeper, Daniel, saved the Greenview penalty. He was on fire and saved two other penalties which made us win and we celebrated with extreme joy, after overcoming what seems to be our curse at penalty shoot-outs. It was the first time from a 35 year absence that Victoria School managed to get to the B Division finals. The Victoria School B' Division Soccer Team of 2008 had made history.
Our Finals were against Singapore Sports School. The same team that humbled us 9-0 at the C' Division National Finals. But they had a few better players, but we had trained hard to get to the Finals. We matched them at every department during first half... But were unlucky to concede a goal 5 minutes from the end of the half. We started the second half with more vigour after a team talk by our coaches, had as much chances as Sports School to score, but were unlucky to not being able to fins the net. Though we were 4-0 down 10 minutes from time, the Victorian Spirit never died and we played our hardest till the final whistle. Final score, 4-0. Though we lost, we can stillhold our heads high as we were playing against players who are the best at our age group. And the 4-0 scoreline was much more convincing than the 9-0 scoreline.
Kudos to our ever faithful supporters ranging from students to school staff and parents. VS will definitely come back stronger next year.
Here's a picture of the soccer players from my class...
From Left:
=> Our Fast and Tricky Winger/Striker, Ryson Yap
=> Our Gigantic Keeper, Daniel Adam Lighfoot
=> Me
=> Our Dynamic Midfielder and Key Player, Dilip Thapa
=> Our Skilled and Nimble Striker, Amsyar Omar
=> Our Smart Thinking Midfielder, Jordon Tng
=> Our Solid Defender, Khairul Anwar
signing out...
Izz...
(listening to: Kidnap My heart By The Click Five)
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities
