By Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Pictures by REDintern YQ Lee and Tan Jon Han/Red Sports

Jalan Besar Stadium, Wednesday, May 12, 2010 – Defending champions Victoria Junior College (VJC) rose from the dead against Raffles Institution (RI) to retain their A Division Girls’ Football Championship title.

Defeat was on the cards for VJC when RI scored in the first minute through forward Joanne Ho Shu-en and held on to the lead throughout regulation time. However Joanne Chew Xin Yi managed a last-gasp equaliser for VJC two minutes into injury time.

Both teams could not score during extra time and VJC completed the heartbreak for RI by winning the resulting penalty shootout 4-1 to retain their title for a third successive year.

In an earlier group stage encounter, both sides played out a 0-0 stalemate. However any notions of that recurrence were dispelled within 20 seconds of the kickoff.

RI lofted the ball into the VJC box straight from kickoff which caused confusion among the VJC defenders. Forward Joanne Ho reacted the quickest as she headed the ball over the onrushing VJC goalie Karen Sng. Despite a VJC defender’s best efforts to clear off the line, the ball trickled into the left corner of the goal.

Buoyed by the early goal and the strong support from the stands, RI continued to attack their more illustrious opponents and had another opportunity on 11 minutes as winger Clarissa Koh had a shot blocked from inside the box after a corner from the left.

VJC began to settle into the game midway through the first half and created a couple of opportunities.

On 17 minutes, full back Jolene Cheng marauded down the right flank and into the box but her shot was well blocked by an RI defender. 12 minutes later, they went the closest to scoring when captain Sukhanya Sureish’s cross from the left was half-cleared towards midfielder Ho Hui Xin inside the box. However the latter’s curling effort was well held by RI goalie Nurimira Ahmad.

VJC continued into the second half in the same tempo with Sukhanya pulling the strings in midfield and winger Joanne Chew creating havoc with her runs down the left flank.

It was no surprise they created the first goalscoring opportunity of the half when Joanne Chew’s header inside the box was blocked on 37 minutes.

They nearly doubled their lead on 53 minutes when RI goalie Nurimira Ahmad dropped a hopeful 30-metre shot from Ho Hui Xin, but the former did well to retrieve the ball before it went over the goal line.

RI goalscorer Joanne Ho had to toil hard in her lone role upfront and nearly reaped a reward one minute later when she slalomed through the middle and shot inside the box in a one-on-one opportunity with Karen Sng but the latter did superbly to deny her effort.

RI had an opportunity to seal the game with six minutes left when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box after captain Hsiang Cheng Chia was brought down. Cheng Chia’s effort went over the wall but went just wide of the right-hand post.

VJC were not prepared to give up their crown without a fight as they went all out to launch attacks at the RI goal in the closing stages. However when Joanne Chew curled wide of the right-hand post a minute into injury time, it looked like RI would emerge winners this year.

The match had a last twist to the tale though. With seconds left to play, right back Jolene Cheng went on a superb run down the right flank that saw her get past two RI defenders before crossing into the box. The cross evaded Nurimira Ahmad into the path of three VJC players just in front of the goal line, with Joanne Chew getting the vital touch to scramble the ball into the open goalmouth.

The last-gasp equaliser drew raucous celebrations from both the VJC bench and the supporters in the stands. VJC coach Lim Wei Quan was also spotted jumping onto the pitch in delight.

The extra time period of 10 minutes was extended to 20 minutes as the gruelling match appeared to take its toll on both sets of players as they went down on several occasions with cramps.

RI were the bigger casualties as they to play with nine players on the pitch on one occasion. However their defence stood strong to repel any VJC attacks that came into their half.

VJC could have scored in the last minute of extra time but winger Sarah Long’s right wing cross into the box was well cleared by RI full back Theresa Teri Tan.

Ultimately the match had to be decided by the dreaded penalty shootout. Rachel Wong was the first to step up for VJC and she successfully converted her penalty by shooting into the bottom right corner.

RI captain Hsiang Cheng Chia led by example as she equalised the score at 1-1 with a powerful penalty that VJC substitute goalie Siti Rasyiqah got a hand to but could not prevent from going in.

VJC substitute Ella Lim put the ball into the bottom right corner again with her attempt to put the pressure on RI’s next penalty taker, Puah Jing Wen. Jing Wen unfortunately succumbed as she shot wide of the right-hand post.

VJC converted their next penalty to increase their lead to 3-1, putting further pressure on RI. Midfielder Fu Liye stepped up for RI, but her effort down the middle was well parried by Siti Rasyiqah.

It all came down to VJC substitute Siti Amalina Binte Mohd Kotharisa for the all-important penalty that would clinch their crown for a second successive year. She did not disappoint as her effort went in off the right hand post, drawing the whole VJC bench to run onto the pitch in delight. The stands erupted as well with deafening celebrations from the VJC supporters.

VJC coach Lim Wei Quan was visibly overwhelmed with his team’s achievements when interviewed after the match.

“It’s simply amazing. In November, I had nine players. In February, I had 13 players. Here we are in May as champions!” he exclaimed. “This speaks volumes for the efforts of my players, the set-up we have in VJC and the support given to us by our students who came down today.”

On how his team managed to recover from the early goal from RI, he said, “The girls were certainly shell-shocked after conceding so early in the game. They were psychologically affected in the first half. Therefore I had to calm them down at half time and tell them to stop being nervous and start playing their own game. In the end, they managed to do it.”

A victorious VJC captain Sukhanya Sureish also shared her feelings with Red Sports after the trophy presentation.

“We really fought very hard throughout the match,” she said. “Despite conceding the goal, we really believed in ourselves and pushed on during the match.”

“The team went through a lot of downs throughout the whole tournament but we stuck together as a team. Because of that self-belief, we managed to achieve this,” she added.

Meanwhile RI teacher-in-charge Leong Chee Mun lamented what it could have been for his team.

“It was a finely balanced game,” he said. “But the last minute goal we conceded definitely affected our morale which can be seen in extra time.”

However he remained proud of his players.

“Personally I felt the girls played really well and gave VJC a very tough fight. Our goal is to reach the final and they have already achieved this,” he added.

In the 3rd/4th placing match played earlier, St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) beat Meridian Junior College (MJC) 2-0 to clinch third place in this year’s championship.

Final Score
VJC 1-1 RI (4-1 pen)

Scorers
RI
Joanne Ho Shu-en 1′
VJC
Joanne Chew Xin Yi 70′ + 2

VJC lineup
Karen Sng Hui En (#7, GK), Lynette Gh Jia Ern (#2), Jessica Ting Hui D’Cruz (#5), Rachel Wong Hui Min (#6), Sarah Long Shi Yun (#8), Joanne Chew Xin Yi (#9), Jolene Cheng Joo-Lynn (#11), Sukhanya Sureish (#13, captain), Leo Huang (#14), Ho Hui Xin (#16), Priscilla Tan Hui Yee (#18)

Substitutes: Cheryl Wong Tze-Yin (#1), Jessica Goh Si Jia (#3), Melissa Tsang Li-Ching (#4), Rechelle Wong Rui Xuan (#10), Siti Amalina Binte Mohd Kotharisa (#12), Ella Lim Shilei (#15), Azrina Aris Bte Hamza Aris (#17), Tan Min Yee (#19), Siti Rasyiqah (#20)

RI lineup
Nurimira Ahmad (#1, GK) , Chen Muzhi (#4), Muneerah bte Abdul Razak (#5), Clarissa Koh Cai Lin (#7), Joanne Ho Shu-en (#14), Fu Liye (#16), Chng Yan (#17), Stephanie Loh Hui Ting (#21), Hsiang Cheng Chia (#22, captain), Deborah Yuen Hui Qi (#23), Theresa Teri Tan Zhuo Hui (#40)

Substitutes: Wang Zi (#9), Pauline Cheng Ochura (#10), Aqilah bte Abdul Rahim (#11) Liyana Nabilah bte Zainal (#12), Ganesan Shankari (#13), Royyani bte Abdul Razak (#18), Sharon Preethi George (#19), Afiqah Bte Zainal (#20), Puah Jing Wen (#36)

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