I hate PENALTIES!!!!

Argh... the PwC Street soccer tournament is finally over... and it HAD to come to this... penalties..... haiz haiz haiz.... feeling really disappointed that i didn't put mine away, and that was the reason why my team got 2nd today..... haiz...

Well the day started with anticipation and enthusiasm, as the rest of the team, just like me, were really looking forward to playing in the tournament for the past few weeks already. After all the talk about players, tactic, trophy celebrations, etc... it was finally down to the real thing. 5 group games were what we had to go through, 7 minutes each half and here's the lowdown on the games we played.


"The Great Reds!!!"


Game 1
Our first game HAD to be against our own friends, Kelvin's Orange team. People whom we play with every week and that's why we regarded them as our toughest opponents. True enough, it was a very tight game, and they were really up for it. We were being pressed quite a bit in the first half and in the second, we started to get out of our shells, and managed to get the first goal. I was running down the right with Kelvin closing in and by some fluke chance, i managed to knock the ball in between his legs and passed it to Zul, who finished it easily. That set the tone and the pace increased, and on one of our breaks, substitute Talib finished brilliantly after a good pass from Zul. 2-0 was the scoreline.. a hard fought win which was the most important.


"Total football is what this team is all about..."

Game 2
The next opponents were people wearing Hall 6 T-shirts... kinda ironic knowing that my hallmate Tom Chio was also in that team.. hahaha... From what we saw, they seemed the toughest of the rest of the teams and true enough, they were very organised and resilient... Their resolute defending ensured we didn't have many clear-cut chances against them and it ended 0-0... a bad result for Kelvin's team... argh... which ineveitably led to their knock-out...

Game 3
Next up was the tax team.... with their very own Zidane... a big dude who seemed pretty skillful with the ball but his pace (or rather lack of it) overshadowed whatever skill he had. It wasn't an easy game either actually, but we managed to steal a goal when Zul's snapshot volley beat the keeper... and then we spent the rest of the game defending like maniacs... we succeeded in the end and Rey got yet another clean sheet! 1-0 to the... erm... A2 team!


"The look of concentration... ONLY when GIRLS are playing."


Game 4
This was our game against the A1s, and we knew we had to create more chances and score lots to ensure the Hall 6 Team wouldn't be able to catch up with us on goal difference if we did lose the last game. Knowing this, we really went flying off the blocks, hitting the post a few times within the first few minutes!! Unrelenting pressure from us and before long we were ahead, and scoring at will! In fact we scored so many that i almost lost count but i think i should roughly have the scorers here.... one own goal off a corner, a Steven "Fox-in-the-box" Chan special off a corner too, another from Talib who was starting to look like supersub Solksjaer, one from me after an amazing through ball from Zul, and lastly Zul himself with 2 well taken goals!! 6-0 and we were cruisin'!!!

Game 5
Our last group game, and it had to be against the Managers... haha... seemingly they weren't having too good a time there, losing all their games and not scoring a single goal! With that in mind, we were going to step down a gear and take it easy, but only AFTER we made sure we'd win this. I started the scoring after driving the ball into the bottom corner, and this was followed by another goal from Steven. In the second half then, we took it easy, resting by rolling our subs, and Rey got his chance to play outfield as a striker!! Ridiculous Rey then ran them ragged and displayed excellent finishing to get 2 goals in a matter of minutes!!! In between though, one of the managers, Winston, got a good shot in and Zul used his acting skills to the fullest to let the ball fly past in... we were true to our word and the managers got their goal!! Both of the teams were then happy to play it out, and it ended 4-1. On to the semis!!!

Semifinal
Our opponents... the admin team who came in runners-up last year. We knew they were quick and skillful but we also knew they were realy tired out from the group games. As such we started by taking it easy and trying to pass it around with lots of movement, tiring them out in the process. Patience paid off and we got the first goal from Zul after i ran into their half in a counter attack.... our 2nd goal came in the 2nd half when Zul played a neat one-two flick with me and i trapped the ball before toe poking it home. 2-0 and we had one foot in the finals!! They did give us a scare with a few good shots but with Yee Chung in spectacular form, there just wasn't going to be a way through for them. 2-0 the final score and one game to the trophy!!

Final
We didn't need to be told about who our opponents were. Yichi, Heng Lip, Chin Beng.... they all formed the core of the PwC soccer team and they were obviously favorites. We were undaunted though and brought the game to them, trying to create open spaces with quick movement and passing. As we started to get our rhythm though, some of their players started to get cramps and started limping around, before a tackle on Chin Beng from Zul ultimately put a temporary stop to the game. The game took some time before restarting and this rattled us a bit, and as a result, we were caught napping at a free kick and Chin Beng smashed it against the crossbar, stunning Rey in the process and leaving Hua Kai to tap in from close range, the FIRST goal he'd conceded in the whole tourney. We started the 2nd half determined to bring the game level but with our players starting to feel weary and Yichi's team smartly controlling possession, it almost looked like a lost hope but right in the last minute, a corner from me found its way to Steven again, and he placed it in the corner, hitting Talib along the way, and sending us and our fans (the Orange team) into raptures! 1-1!!! The final whistle blew almost immediately after kick-off and it was down to penalties.

Decision time, and it was agreed that i was to take the kick first, followed by Talib and then Yee Chung and with Zul as the goalie. Yichi got his first penalty in and then it was my turn. Now i am always confident in taking penalties and i have NEVER missed one for my hall. Here i was in front of the keeper, choosing my spot (left) and ready to kick... as i struck the ball though, i tried to get as much power as possible and this compromised the aiming (excooses).... the ball went dead centre and the keeper saved it... argh.. a moment that i'll remember forever. Subsequently, everyone got their penalties in and Heng Lip's team won 3-1. Yee Chung didn't even get the chance to take it and i have to take the blame for the suggy wuggy penalty.

On hindsight....
Thinking back on the day, the end result wasn't as good as we'd expected, but on the positive side, we lived up to our billing as favorites and gave Yichi's team a run for their money. Think i'll always remember it coming down to my penalty but i will never forget the hard work my teammates put in to make it such a successful tournament for us.

Zul, Steven, Chin Soon, Yee Chung, Rey, Weiren and Talib... THANKS so much for putting in your all today!!!


"Good game dudes.. Good game!!"