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The Sharks were on the hunt, hungry for a win after a bitter loss last week. This week’s victims, FC MYK.; a fit looking Japanese team who actually played a mini-game before the match, while Central Park went through a light warm-up. The Sharks were missing key defenders like Anuar, Vince and Vincent, but they were ably replaced by debutant Dominic, with Sharil stepping in as the last man. Two more forwards made their bows in the yellow shirt, Jess from the UK and the man from Japan Shindo, who would face compatriots in his very first game
The yellows made a very shaky start, with MYK displaying some slick passes in the opening exchanges. However the defence held firm with the impressive pairing of Sharil and Dominic marshalling the back line. Some slack play in midfield let MYK break, and their striker was put through on goal, but Sharil, ever alert, put in a tackle just as the forward was about to pull the trigger. A few more forays down the left flank kept Charlson busy, but the opposing winger failed to threaten.
MYK continuously peppered Mizan’s goal with shots, but the calm keeper kept everything out. With over ten minutes gone, Central Park then began to get a grip on the game. Harold broke free of his marker on the left and closed in on goal, but couldn’t make the final pass. Issac and Chris in particular provided the aerial threat, which MYK’s defenders couldn’t cope with. The Japanese defence finally crumbled, when a mistake in midfield allowed Heng Lin to latch onto a loose ball and whip in a cross. Issac missed it, but Harold rushed in to unleash an unstoppable shot which bulged the top corner of the net.
The Sharks kept up the pressure after the restart, with Jess being introduced into the fray. He was an able replacement for Chris, winning the aerial battles with ease. Minutes after coming on, some good attacking play found the striker free in the box, and he duly converted for his debut goal.
MYK began the second half as they did the first, displayed a desire to attack with their newly introduced playmaker pulling the strings. With their first foray forward, the playmaker was put through on goal. He coolly rounded Mizan to score, putting MYK right back into the game.
The Japanese side surged forward with confidence, putting enormous pressure on the Sharks. Then came the moment which may have turned the match around. An MYK striker was put through again, beating Charlson for a golden chance to equalize. He chose to side foot the ball into the bottom left corner, but the excellent Mizan got down to palm the ball round the post.
Moments later, Shindo flicked on a header for Issac to chase, and chase it down he did. Displaying a typical hunger to score, the burly forward bulldozed past his marker to slot the ball past the hapless goalkeeper. The two-goal advantage didn’t last long though. MYK weren’t done yet, choosing to focus their attacks down the right flank. A cross then evaded the Sharks’ defence, and was duly headed in at the far post by a Japanese attacker.
With the restart, Issac, Chris and Heng Li continued to combine well, showing Central Park’s voracious appetite for goals. The pressure paid off when Issac was put through by a brilliant pass from Heng Li. The big man held up the ball well, and laid it off to the waiting Harold. Still left with plenty to do, the winger turned his marker inside out before blasting the ball into the far post. This seemed to deflate the Japanese team, and more chances came the Sharks’ way. One opportunity saw Heng Li left with the simplest of tap-ins, but the diminutive winger couldn’t find a way past the keeper. In the dying minutes, Jason was also put through down the right. His cross was parried by the keeper, but Ian somehow missed the follow up when it seemed easier to score.
The 4-2 victory was a welcome result for the boys in yellow, after coming off the back of two consecutive losses.
The manager commented after the match, 'We were playing on the edge today and we knew that our defense was in trouble for the second half. Nonetheless, we took our chances upfront and it somehow put the team in good stead. It was quite a roller-coaster ride and some of our defending today could just give anyone a heart attack! |
