League game 1 - Whining 11 vs Inter 3-3

Our first league game and first league point. In truth the game should have been won but there were some individual mistakes here and there that cost the win. But we win, lose or draw together as a team and there should be no finger-pointing, just accept it and rectify the errors and we move on from there.

Day started well with our players all on time and mostly early even before the gate was open. Everyone did their warm up and had a team round up by Chai before taking the field. Asen started in goal, with Tien taking up the right back slot and Daniel on the left. Jin and Zhenquan was the spine of the defence and in front of them was Lewis and Adrian, who were flanked by Rixian and Kejang. Up front we had Zonghui and Chai our leading scorers. A healthy bench was available with Nigel, Zhenqing, Fat, Yichun. Game started with opponents trying to dominate possession but the team was backed by the persistent encouraging of Daniel from the bank. We soaked up pressure and play on the counter attack. It may not be pretty but we will get our chances this way. One such break saw Chai free down the right to cross the ball for Zonghui to slot home. That's our first league goal and of course we know it's not over yet. The pitch is hard, sandy and bumpy which made playing difficult but opponents are playing on the same field so definitely there should not be any excuse on our part. Asen pulled off 2 excellent saves and Zhenquan was winning challenges and making crucial clearances. Together with Jin and the rest of the defence holding the team together. The referee was a big problem for us as he keep giving fouls that wasn't and giving cards that was just a simple foul. Inter had much protection from the referee and maybe partially because they are more experienced in getting the decisions their way. But to be frank it's really soft for Chai and Adrian to be conceding yellows. But let's be more tactful next time, ONCE THE WHISTLE IS BLOWN NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY OR DO WILL NOT CHANGE THE DECISION, SO LET'S KEEP OUR COOL AND ACCEPT IT, ORGANISE OURSELVES AND KEEP OUR SHAPE AGAIN. Please bear this in mind.

Midway through the first half we conceded and corner, slack marking caused us as a free header was planted into goal and we are back to square 1. It's a bad goal to concede but let's learn from this and move on.

2nd half saw one change from our side, with Yichun and Tien trading places, while Lewis came off for Seng who moved out to the left and Rixian to the centre. And we started stronger this time round. Constant pressure but we failed to turn our domination into goals. Zonghui was tightly marked and devoid of service while Chai was chasing and closing down in typical hardworking fashion, and also making runs and moving into channels to draw out defenders. But we went behind when Asen fumbled a soft shot from outside the area and we went 2-1 down. Zhenqing came on for Rixian and not soon after Fat came on for Jin. Zhenquan was obviously tired too as mistakes started to crept into his game. The team kept the pressure on and won a corner on the left, with Kejang swinging it low and Chai making the crucial connection by sweeping the ball first time into the net. That instilled belief in the team and the message was that there we 5 minutes to go when Whining 11 won another corner, this time on the right. Zhenqing put the ball in and as it was slightly behind Kejang he had to shaped him to do a scissors kick. Made strong connection and the ball was deflected into the net in what was the winner... or we thought it is. Late on we conceded a late penalty when Fat brought down one of the Inter indian. The challenge seem 50-50 but he was getting nowhere and Fat did acknowledge his error of judgement. The penalty was put in to Asen's right as the game ended 3-3. It was a game of highs and lows when we thought we did a smash and grab but were brought down to earth again. It may be slightly disappointing but let's draw the positives out and look forward to the next game, where we most probably will have Jumain and Simon back to add more solidity into the side.

P.S. If you think you played well then ask more of yourself to play better. If you think you could have done more and it was a performance you were not satisfy with, push yourself harder. Fat and Asen don't look too much into it. Move on and come back stronger! Take care team!

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