Cup Run Ends in Bitter Disappointment
Our usual intrepid reporter remains too emotionally scarred to write this weeks report. So, asked that the report be written by Terry Harris this week. In a game played on a hard and firm pitch at Uniten A, Asterix Reds went down 3-2 to Kepong Chinese from Division 1. Congratulations to Kepong, but this scoreline was a bitter disappointment for the lads. Perhaps most upsetting was that Kepong deserved their win, giving a performance where their commitment and courage to play football despite being underdogs could not be questioned. For our part, too many of our lads just did not play to the high standards they have displayed this season.
We went down to a goal after about 20 minutes when a through ball saw us stop and look for an offside decision. A calm finish saw us 1 - 0 down. However, we bounced back fairly quickly, when Shashi who had just come on the park picked up the ball and fed Bumni who was carreering through the middle, dealt with the bouncing ball well to lob into the roof of the net. At this point, the game was fairly even, but we did not take advantage of the impetus of the goal to grab control of the game. We begun to hampered with injuries and pulls. Quirky went pulled up with a groin strain after 20 mins. Bala (stomach), Marcello, Anthony went lame with a damaged heel, John McGachie with tight hamstrings, Ghani (back). In between of of this, Kepong scored their second goal, a well constructed goal with a nigh inch perfect ball floated over our centre half, brought down on his instep by their forward and taken away from the covering Ghani and around our keeper with his next touch. A calm roll of the foot saw us 2 - 1 down.
Half time came with the first thing to be checked was who was fit to carry on! The second half started badly for us. We just did not have any shape, rhythm or urgency about our play. We conceded at third goal. Then Kisho in a moment of madness kicked their full back and was sent off. Down to 10 men. Sugu, then had clashed with their centre forward and had to go off with a horrible gash above his eye. This happened moments after Anthony had clashed heads and was dripping claret from his pate. A patched up "mummy" looking Anthony went in goal. We then proceeded with 10 men to play the best football played by either team for the last 20 minutes. This was lead by Ghani who stepped up from centre half duties to the middle of the park and gave one of the best performances I have seen from our lads. His drive pushed us on and he and the team was rewarded with a goal, a free kick with 10 minutes to go, curled firmly into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
So a grandstand finish was set up, with 10 man Asterix pushing for an equaliser that would take it to penalties. We knew a chance would come. Bala delivered the sweetest of free kicks from the edge of their box, the pace requiring only guiding into the net. Shashi got on the end of it and connected too firmly. The ball went screaming over the bar. The chance had gone and so had our hopes of salvaging something from the game.
Yes, it was disappointing, but this is the time when a teams strength is tested. We will need to regroup for the weekend and pull together. Look to get over this result and put it behind us. I think that we should forget this game except for a couple of things. The feelings of disappointment should never be forgotten so that the next time we are playing in such a game, we pull out all the stops to make sure we are winners. Winners are Grinners and there were no Grinners on the Reds side after the game. The other thing that should be remembered is Ghani's performance. He is newest to our club, but displayed the desire to fight, win and influence the game which we all need to show in matches. When I last checked, lions are not indigenous to Malaysia, but in Ghani I think I saw someone with the heart of a lion. He only has to grow his hair a little bit more to have a full mane! Let us all try to match his great efforts.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment