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...
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities
