It was a case of two points lost rather than a point gain and Sharks will look back into this fixture with much disappointment after they conceded a contentious penalty late in the second-half. Twice they came back to level the game in the first-half and twice they squandered their lead in the second-half. While the eight goals provided much entertainment for the neutrals, the match probably be best remembered for the inconsistencies of the man-in-black which left both teams rather bemused by some of his decisions.
Unknown Boys drew first blood five minutes into the game after a mis-communcation between Nuriman and Kelvin. The goal seemed to wake the team up as they made their forays upfront and were unlucky not to level the game as Chris shot hit the post shortly after the restart. Debutant Jaly who has been causing a lot of problems on the left made his presence felt and his hard work were duly rewarded when his square pass found Jean-Jacques to finish from six yards to level the game. While Sharks continue to create opportunities, the opposition took the lead against the run of play after they failed to clear an innocuous cross. Despite the numerous opportunities they created, the Sharks only managed to find the net 3 minutes from half-time. Jean-Jacques again at the right place to finish off a pass from Shah. The second-half was a different affair as Sharks made their intentions known right at the start with another debutant Naoki, who struck the crossbar after beating 2 defenders along the way. Shah had another opportunity to give his team the lead but he missed from six-yards out. Twenty minutes into the second-half, Sharks were rewarded as they took the lead for the first time in the game after Chris finished off a good cross from Naoki at the far post. But the lead evaporates shortly afterwards as Unknown Boys level the game yet again.
As both teams surge forward for the lead, Chris handed Sharks the lead as he take full advantage of the fumble by the opposition custodian to slot into the empty net. Jeremy and Jean-Jacques had opportunities to gave the team a two goal cushion but were unable to capitalise later on before Unknown Boys were handed a lifeline after Kelvin were adjudged to have challenge the opposition forward in the box. They made no mistake from the spot to level the game yet again. In the final minute, Jean Jacques had a glorious chance to net the winner but despite calls for a penalty after being tugged, lunged and pushed, the man-in-black saw nothing wrong with the challenge.
The manager reacted angrily after the match, 'Poor and indecisive sums up the official's performance today. You don't award a penalty when players fall after they throw themselves in the box or towards another player especially late in the game and when they need a goal badly. You certainly don't award one when the player was running away from goal and you definitely don't penalise a player who was tackle from behind with a yellow card. The fact that the official admitted he made a mistake of not awarding a penalty in favor of the Sharks in the first half sums up his performance. The last opportunity in the second-half where one is en-route on goal but was stopped by sheer lunged and shirt tugging is not a penalty left many bewildered. While common sense prevailed by both teams as it threathens to go overboard after the game, the root cause of that is not rocket science.'
He added, 'The only positive that the team can take from this game is that they kept their heads high even when the chips are down.'
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