Looking for a light

Chapter 4 - Game Time

The kick off whistle blew, and as imentioned previously we won the ball back almost immeditaely, Stef spraying the ball wide to Jolyn, who was turning to run, and the ball hit her back. Doh! One thing I respected TJ for was their ability to dig in and ensure that the opposition no matter how talented did not manage to break through, I mean c'mon if even the brilliant SA strike force could not get through, what more us?

But what I did not expect was for TJ to keep us backpedalling which was exactly what they did, with Rebekah coming close with a one on one with Farah. luckily enough, the youngster managed to keep her cool and save the ball, god only knows how the match would have turned out had Rebekah scored. Phew. This was an amazing journey from Farah, coming from being in Charmaine's shadow, to being calle dupon to be on duty for the last two but most important matches at the last moment, I don't envy her position that much I must admit.

Within the first 15 minutes of the match our left and right flanks were taken for a ride by the TJ wingers. Yasmin, no. 6 was doing brilliantly on her flank, and claudia was also finding space on our right flank. Jie Min and Grace were not performing and Mini over the walkie-talkie was obviously distressed. It seemed to be only a matter of time before TJ broke through.

However, the match was not exactly controlled by TJ, it was more of a ping-pong affair between the both of us, just that TJ had the better chances to convert. Jing Jing was tripped just outside the penalty and the girls lined up for the free kick. We had been practising some variations in the past week, and the time and opportunity was ripe to use it. Stef lined up behind the opposition wall, and Viv, Jing and Jolyn luned up for the free kick. Ok, good all was to plan, they were gonna execute the "Zanetti" (that was the code name given). Then suddenly I saw that Sheryl, the TJ captain picked up Stef's scent and had dirfted in her direction. Diana, TJ 9 asw that too and suddenly the opportunity was gone. It seemed as though our plan would fail. I comepletely balme msyelf for a lack of trust in the girls, as I thought they were still going to go ahead with the same move. But I just kept quiet knowing anything I said would indicate to the opposition what we were planning to do.

Jing Jing overran the ball with a dummy, and Vivian ran towards it. but instead of passing to Stef she curled one brilliantly over the wall, heading to the bottom left corner. But the TJ keeper came up with a brilliant save. In a split second Jaslyn was at the far post and she knocked in the rebound. 1-0. A great roar from the crowd, and I jumped like 2 feet in the air, and hugged JR. we were up and had gotten the first blow.

A turn of the tide indeed, the game started to settle down, and Salome started to clear the balls convincingly. At this point Mr Tan and Mrs Chan were already in the house. Mr Tan kept urging the girls to push up and compact the play, something which I had been telling the girls to practisce. We caught TJ offsied once with a brilliant push up by Audrey and I immediately looked at Mr Tan, who amde eye-contact and nodded. Mentor and mentee were in snyc, and I was so proud the girls were able to master such a play. Talk about pressure, and the crowd was roaring the team ahead. Close to half time, I checked and it was @ the 23min mark, 2 minutes to half time. A clearance by Salome on the long ball, which was glanced off the head off a TJ defender. As the TJ defenders waited for the ball to land, Jing Jing sneaked in at the far post and cnotrolled the ball brilliantly. She moved forward, it was one on one with the keeper, with the reds scrambling back to stop her. That moment seemed to take forever. Then Jing Jing struck the ball brilleiantly, high and to the side, it was hard for any keeper to save. 2-0. Again JR came up to me and we hugged. Brilliant!

The hlaf time whistle blew at the subsequent kick off and we rushed into the dressing room. The picture still remained in my mind, where the Reds were walking off the pitch in a disappointed mood I would think and the Victorians sprinted off into the dressing room, charged up with adrenaline.

Half time talk was short and sharp, I reminded them how close they were to the trophy, yet they could easily lose i in the half. I reminded them how hungry TJC was to win the cup as well, and how hard they had worked. TJC were a team of fighters without a doubt and I reminded the girls that they could easily score 3 back. the game was far from over. Mini told the girls to imagine themselves being 0-0 and I interrupted by saying that we were down1-0 and we needed to claw back. One cheer, and the girls sprinted back onto the pitch. Game on.

In the second half we charged forward, seeming to take more control of the ball, suddenly it seemd that our fitness was pushing us further and further ahead. jaslyn was switched back to left for a tired christl, whom I felt had a decent last game. Shi Ling came in. Ling is an absolute fighter. She is not the best player, but rest assured if you want somebody to harass the opposition and take them on, it was Shi Ling. She came on and started making good runs, using the blind spots well. Crosses kept coming in, Jolyn was having a great time running on the right but her crosses were just not strong enough. jaslyn on the other hand was putting the crosses in. Birlliant talent. But cross after cross came to no avail. There was even one where Shi Ling got to the ball first but she hit it wide. I kept shouting in frustration (no vulgarities amazingly) and a few indian guys in the crowd told me to relax. Of which I acknowledged. But how to? At the 24 minute mark I brouhgt in Eileen and Alex into the game. Eileen cos' she deserved it, for all her hard work and Alex cos' she has yet to get a game in the tournament. Honestly I was prepared for Alex not to play, cos' I never thought she was in the right mental condition to play. But I decided to take the risk. Alex was super blur and told me that she had never played at l;eft back before and did not know how to take a throw in. Somehow at this point I was convinced I did the right thing not to play Alex earlier on because she was so blur. But Alex works like a horse, and she deserved to step onto the pitch. 2-0 up with virtually no time left. Please please God please, I kept saying.

It was 25 minutes and still no final whistle. 27 minutes still no final whistle. The reserves already asked me if they could stand up, to which Ir eplied they could, but just to remember to flood the field if we won. 29 minutes, still no sign of a final whistle?? and each hald was only 25 minutes long. The crowd was getting anxious and I kept complaining to Miss Tan how time was up long ago.

We wasted another chance. The referee put the whistle to her lips. This was it....

Goal Kick!

What the heck?!?!

Chapter 5 - The Final Whistle

Out.

posted by Me @ 9:35 PM