Victoria JC overcome Anglo-Chinese JC with valiant display to advance to boys' A Division football final

Story by REDintern Gerald Goh. Photos by reader Jolyn Ang.

Meridian Junior College Field, Monday, May 18, 2009 - Victoria Junior College (VJC) battled their way past Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 3-0 in the semi-finals for another shot at the A Division Boys’ Football Championship title.

VJC, last year’s beaten finalists, put on an exemplary display of teamwork and pressing football while demonstrating their superior tactical and technical acumen, whereas ACJC will rue the fact that they missed a host of glaring opportunities.

Both sides began the match cautiously, with ACJC adopting a compact formation down the middle while VJC went with a more adventurous approach utilising both flanks. VJC's Wei Liang swung in an early free-kick that went narrowly wide, before a mis-hit clearance from VJC shot-stopper Hwat Wafiy struck ACJC's Trevor Lim on the back of the head barely 20 yards from goal, with ACJC unfortunately unable to capitalise.

With neither side going for the jugular, VJC forward Bui "Alex" Viet Anh's intelligent run took him into a 1-on-1 with ACJC goalkeeper Pierson Ang, who did well to deny a certain goal with his legs.

Against the run of play, Alex powered his side into the lead. A poor goal-kick from Pierson was knocked back by VJC striker Anders Aplin into the path of Alex, who easily beat the offside trap before coolly slotting past Pierson. The VJC supporters went wild as their players celebrated with abandon, while Alex acknowledged the fans' support by blowing a kiss to the crowd.

ACJC began to make more forays into their opponents' final third. However, a VJC counter-attack found Alex via a cut-back from the corner flag, who had time and space but placed his shot wide.

The VJC players' superior ball control began to tell as they made ACJC waste possession time and time again. ACJC goalkeeper Pierson had to be brave as he rushed out of his area to deny an onrushing Alex, clearly the biggest thorn in ACJC's side so far.

ACJC's Derek Lam then embarked on a surging run down the left flank, evading a desperate lunge before bending in a delightful cross that ACJC's Tan Yong Geng sent over the bar with a half-volley.

ACJC's wastefulness in front of goal would soon haunt them. Receiving a long pass down the side, Anders Aplin fended off two defenders before flicking in a low cross which Mohammed Asyraf gleefully converted. With the cheers of the raucous VJC support rising to a crescendo pitch, VJC were two goals to the good as the ACJC players appeared deflated.

With the crowd baying for blood, Anders Aplin tangled with ACJC's Jonathan Yap as they challenged for the ball. However, the VJC man showed good sportsmanship to help his fallen opponent up.

ACJC's Adam Yuu Douglas was then denied a spectacular goal only by the width of the left post after curling in a shot from the left flank following some good footwork.

The spirited exhortations of VJC coach Tan Yew Hwee appeared justified when VJC let their concentration lapse momentarily to allow ACJC's Wycliffe Tan to send in a free-kick that custodian Wafiy was hard-pressed to palm away. ACJC's Yoshiaki Gondokusumo then blasted a free-kick 20 yards out narrowly wide.

The second half saw VJC again camped in the ACJC half, as ACJC struggled to create any sort of momentum. A rare mix-up between goalkeeper Pierson and defender Kannan s/o Kumaran saw the ball fall nicely for VJC's Yap Hsien Liang, who made a hash of his effort, laying motionless afterward on the turf with embarrassment.

Alex continued to cause the ACJC defence all sorts of problems, latching onto a headed clearance and lobbing three separate opponents as he ran down the length of the field. The ACJC defence, clearly at sixes and sevens, had no answer for his pace and agility. His overhanging cross from the right flank had ´keeper Pierson backpedalling furiously to tip the ball away to safety as VJC continued to dominate the game.

VJC's third goal in the 81st minute finally silenced the ACJC support. Wei Liang received a long ball, sold his marker a dummy and chipped an inviting cross into the penalty area, where Alfred Ali was on hand to score a thumping header past the flailing Pierson and send the VJC support into delirium.

Goalkeeper Pierson's frustrations were personified later on when he beat his knees in frustration as Jonathan Yap inexplicably put the ball out of touch under no pressure. At the final whistle, VJC's players screamed for joy as they celebrated another opportunity to lay the demon of yesteryear to rest in the final on May 29.

VJC striker Alex reckoned VJC played well as a team.

"We lost in the final last year, so this time we were very determined to beat AC (to progress to the final)."

He remained philosophical about scoring the opener to set VJC on their way, maintaining that though he'd scored many goals in the group stages, "it feels good to be able to perform on the big stage. I've managed to learn from my mistakes, my teammates and my coach have motivated me a lot. Overall, I'm very happy to be in the final," he grinned.