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Central Park season looks bleak as they remained rooted to one of the 2 relegation spots when they could only muster a draw against high flyers Fighting Cocks, who was fortunate to earn a solitary point when they were awarded with a contentious penalty with just 3 minutes remaining. Graeme level the game in the second half after the oppostion had taken an early lead in the second half. The game swung from one end to the other with Sharks creating more chances in front of goal but could not make it count. Heng Li however gave his team hopes of snatching all 3 points when he finished off a great move from Zhuoneng but on the other end, Graeme turned from hero to villain when he concended a penalty with just 3 minutes remaining.
Sharks started the game with hopes of improving its fortunes after having gone for almost half the season without a win. A single win and an array of draws and defeat isn't something the Sharks were accustomed to but they showed more purpose and desire to peg the opposition in the early exchanges. Both teams kept going at each other with the clearest chance falling to Naoki who after some good work on the flank could not get his shot in. Harold almost managed to sneak in a inch perfect cross for Isaac in the final moments of the first half, only to be denied by a last ditch challenge from the defenders as both team went into the break at 0-0.
The second half started with Sharks taking the early initiation but the opposition took the lead against the run of play, no thanks to some poor ball play from the Sharks defense which allow the opposition the opportunity to take the lead from a scorcher from the resulting throw-in. The goal seemed to deflate the Sharks but shortly afterwards, Heng Li revived his team's hope when he was won a penalty after being pulled back in the area. Up step Graeme who made no mistake from the resulting penalty. The goal seemed to put the team in its second gear as they moved the ball with confidence. Harold almost gave his team the lead when his shot beat the custodian but the crossbar denied him. Shortly afterwards, Jason could have nicked in from close range but he could only muster a shot which was way off target.
The pressure paid off when Zhuoneng bulldozed his way from right-back into the opposition penalty area as he harrassed, won the and made a inch perfect cross for Heng Li to finish with aplomb, much to the delight of the rest of the team. However, the celebration was short-lived as soon after, Graeme was adjudged to have brought his man down and the opposition made no mistake from the resulting penalty.
The manager said, 'At this juncture, we can't even buy a win. However, it seemed that we just couldn't finish opponents off this season. We kept keeping them in the game. The team should learn to kill games off as they are so many instances this season that a win was translated to draws, draws are not going to do the team any favour now.
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