By Kenneth Tan/Red Sports

Serangoon Junior College, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 – In a repeat of last year’s final, runners-up Meridian Junior College (MJC) got a revenge of some sorts as they clinched a 2-1 win over the defending champions Victoria Junior College (VJC) in their final second round Group Y match of the A Division Football Championship.

Both teams have contested the final in the last two years, with MJC winning the crown in 2008 while VJC were the victors last year. With qualification all but settled, both teams decided to rest a few key players for the upcoming semi-finals. Despite that, the rivalry between both teams ensured the clash remained competitive.

VJC started the match well and created a couple of goalscoring opportunities.

Firstly on 15 minutes, forward VJC’s Nguyen Phuoc Tan attempted an audacious chip from 30 yards out which looped just over the bar. Seven minutes later, midfielder Shuvod Rai cut inside from the left and shot just inside the box but his effort was smothered well by MJC goalie Daniel Adam Lightfoot.

MJC slowly settled in and created their first opportunity on 24 minutes when midfielder Ooi Jie Ren fired just wide of the right-hand post from outside the box.

Eight minutes later, MJC took the lead through an outstanding strike. After creating some space for himself in the midfield, forward Mohamed Amsyar B Omar Abdullah seized the opportunity to unleash a thunderbolt from all of 30 yards that went in off the crossbar, giving VJC goalie Ifwat Wafiy no chance at all. That was the first goal Ifwat has conceded in this year’s tournament and it certainly revved up the volume among the MJC supporters in the stands.

Amsyar could have doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time when his effort from just outside the box grazed the left-hand post and went out of play.

MJC continued in the same mood two minutes after the restart as forward Sharif Hidayat Bin Abul Hamid’s cheeky back heel inside the six-yard box went just wide of the right-hand post.

On 48 minutes, goalscorer Mohamed Amsyar doubled MJC’s lead through yet another superb strike.

A perfect through ball from the left released Amsyar in a one-on-one opportunity with Ifwat Wafiy inside the box. With no defender closing in, he proceeded to chip over the onrushing Ifwat. Despite a VJC defender’s best efforts, he could only help Amsyar’s effort into the net. The goal sparked raucous celebrations from the MJC bench.

VJC bucked up their efforts thereafter and managed to threaten the MJC goal on several occasions. On 54 minutes, forward Fang Jia Jie’s 30-yarder sailed over the top left corner of the goal.

15 minutes later, Jia Jie’s initial snapshot after a cutback from the right was saved down low by Daniel Adam Lightfoot before he fired over from a cross.

On 71 minutes, full back Lim Jin Kai was released in a one-one-one situation with Lightfoot, but his effort was foiled by the latter.

Their incessant pressure eventually paid off three minutes later when a low corner from substitute Ryson Yap resulted in MJC’s Ooi Jie Ren miscuing his clearance that went straight into his own net to grant VJC a lifeline with six minutes to go.

However MJC’s defence stood strong in the closing stages and held out for the 2-1 win.

The win ensured they top Group X with nine points from three matches, while VJC finished second with six points.

VJC will take on Group X winners St. Andrew’s Junior College in the first semi-final scheduled on next Monday, May 10th, at MJC while MJC take on Group X runners-up Raffles Institution in the second semi-final scheduled on Tuesday, May 11th, at VJC.

Both matches will kick-off at 4pm.

Final Result
MJC 2 VJC 1
Scorers
MJC
Mohamed Amsyar B Omar Abdullah 32’, 48’
VJC
Ooi Jie Ren og 74’

MJC lineup
Jordon Tng Xin Jie (#2), Derrick Lim Teck Swee (#3), Cohen Tan Tze Wei (#4, captain), Ooi Jie Ren (#5), Mohamed Amsyar B Omar Abdullah (#8), Tang Choon Yang Jeremy Reuben (#11), Mohd Farhan Bin Azmi (#13), Sharif Hidayat Bin Abul Hamid (#18), Mohd Hairi Bin Alias (#23), Daniel Adam Lightfoot (#24, GK), Oon Tian Sern (#53)

Substitutes:
Mohd Khair Bin Mohd Rizauddin (#7),Ang Bing Quan (#9), Khairul Azmi Dzulkarnian (#10), Kenneth Kor Kiat Kang (#14), Mohd Hafiz Bin Mystafa (#17), Darren Low Jun Jie (#21), Faris Hakim Bin Abdul Rahman (#22),Mohd Naufal Nur Hakim B Mohd Hafeez (#29), Mohd Firdaus Bin Ismail (#38)

VJC lineup
Ifwat Wafiy (#1, GK), Jasper Lee (#3), Parvesh Singh Dhillon (#5), Shuvod Rai (#6), Huang Zhi Wei (#9), Gabriel Wong Liang Jie (#12), Nguyen Phuoc Tan (#13), Fang Jia Jie (#14), Anuruddhan Arunan (#15), Lim Jin Kai (#17), Jaren Thun Jie Ren (#18)

Substitutes: Law Kar Hoe (#2), Ryson Yap Wei Jian (#7), Alfred Ali (#8), Dilip Thapa Masrangi (#10), Mohd Asyraf Bin Mohd Akbar (#11), Khairul Anwar B (#16), Tan Chia Chiu (#19), M Ganeshkumar (#25), Tilwa Raj Udaykumar (#20)

N.B. Let us know the names of the players featured and we’ll update the captions. Thanks.

Go to the SCHOOLS FIXTURES & RESULTS page for more information.