Saturday, April 19, 2008
Today was the semi-finals for the Nike Cup tournament my school team had worked so hard for. Our match was against Regent sec, a team we beat in the second round by the score of 1-0. We expected to come to us better than before, for we knew that they would want to get back at us following their defeat to us during the second round.
The usual starting XI was played, with me at the right-back position. Instead of the usual 10 minutes per half game, it was 20 minutes per half. We were advised by our coach to pace ourselves. I was sick with flu a couple of days prior to the game, and was still slightly sick when i played the game. My nose was constantly blocked, and i had to breathe through my mouth unless i wanted to faint from the lack of oxygen. Because of that, i had chest pain throughout the match, and my stamina was affected. I had a bad game, with only a few good tackles here and there. Tension was running high. Shouting could be heard throughout the game. The first half was unpredictable, we kept attacking at each other, but it was clear that Regent was playing better. The first half ended in a stalemate... But the second half was slightly better...
We started the second half better, we had more attacking chances. We managed to draw first blood from an unlikely source, our left back, Saufi. He over-lapped and received the ball from a marvelous back-heel by our left midfielder. Everyone was shouting at him to cross. Kick the ball high towards goal he did. And the ball sailed over the keeper and into the net. We cheered in sheer jubilation. We were a step closer to the finals to the Nike Cup, or so we thought.
In the dying seconds of the game, our goal-scorer conceded a free kick from right outside the penalty box. And unfortunately for us, Regent scored from the free kick. Our keeper could have saved it, but it took a deflection from the wall and hit the back of the net. We were devastated. The final whistle sounded after a few kicks from the center start. We could not believe that we conceded a goal at the last seconds of the game. The game was to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
When our coach asked our players who wanted to take the penalty, only two were confident enough. I wanted to take penalty, but was scared that i would miss. I managed to sum up enough courage to try though, so when our coached asked me whether i wanted to take the penalty i said OK. I was the 3rd kicker. I was very nervous. The penalty would be the first ever penalty i had taken in my whole life. I was really nervous. When our 1st taker went up to take the penalty, the whole field was quiet, you could here a pin drop (Actually no... It was just very silent...). When our 1st kicker took his run up, we held our breaths... When the ball swished into the net, we cheered and congratulated him. Our celebration was short-lived for the Regent player also scored his penalty. When our 2nd kicker went up, the same situation happened again, the place was quiet. We gasped when the Regent keeper managed to get a touch on the ball, but the ball was too powerful for him to parry away. We rejoiced again.
It was soon going to be my turn to take the penalty. And when the Regent player scored, i was shaking like a leaf in strong wind. Before i stepped into the center circle to wait for my turn, i picked up a pebble and clenched my fist around it, focusing on the pebble. It was a method taught to me by a friend. I asked her how to calm my nerves during a practical situation, and she told how she does it, which was what i did. I must say it worked, but a little too well. I managed to calm my nerves down to think properly. I did not want to hit the ball too hard for the fear of missing. I lined up for my run-up, which was about 3 steps... And when the referee blew his whistle, i ran up and hit the ball... When my foot connected with the ball, i knew that i under-hit it... The Regent keeper dived the correct way and i held my breath...
And the ball hit the net via the bottom corner. I blew out a sigh of relief and with it all the tension that had gathered up. Truth to be told, i was lucky with my penalty. My penalty was slow, but managed to elude the keeper. When i kicked the ball, the Regent keeper dived. But the ball was slow, passing the goal-line just after he hit the ground, just missing the keeper's finger tips. He could have taken a step nearer and saved my shot, but he dived too early. I was exhilarated. I had scored my first goal while representing my school for an 11-a-side game! Though it was a penalty,nonetheless it was still a goal.
Our next kicker went up... struck the ball... and the ball hit the crossbar and went out. We were devastated, but lucky for us, the penalty was to be retaken as the keeper was off his line too early. His retaken penalty was parried by the Regent keeper and hit the post, and bounced over the goal-line and barely went in. We again gasped in relief. The next Regent player took his run... kicked the ball... and it went past the post and out. We cheered loudly, but quietened down when our last kicker went to take his penalty.
He ran up... kicked the ball to the corner... the Regent keeper dived... to the wrong way. We celebrated like there was no tomorrow. We at first thought that our penalty curse would happen, but we managed to elude it's grasp this time. We were really very elated. We had qualified for the finals! The finals is this Friday at the Jalan Besar Stadium! It'll be my first time stepping in there and first time playing there too! I can't explain how excited i am! Wish us luck! Thanks!
Izz...
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
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