By Les Tan
Muhd Khairil glances in the winning goal for VJC in second half stoppage time to ensure a 3-2 victory. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Jalan Besar Stadium, Monday, May 25, 2009 – Victoria Junior College scored a stoppage time goal to eke out a 3-2 victory over Meridian Junior College.
The 3pm start time under the scorching sun plus the adrenaline of a national football final meant fitness would come into play in this game. Added to that the heart-pounding and ear-splitting cheering from supporters of both schools – the loudest cheering you’ll hear at a football game on this island – the stage was set for an exciting game.
A blistering start saw VJC take an early 1-0. Alex (#10) found some space on the left flank and his cross was met by Asyraf who placed his header over Edmund Wong in the (#32) in the MJC goal. 1-0 to VJC.
But MJC came right back. Their constant pressure yielded them a free-kick from 30m out. Up stepped their captain Fazli Hisham (#7) who hit it straight at the VJC keeper Ifwat Wafiy. It was not a hard shot and everyone expected the keeper to pluck it safely from the air. To his and the collective horror of the VJC crowd, it squirmed from his outstretched hands and bounced over the line. 1-1 and the MJC crowd roared their approval.
Man for man, MJC had the measure of the VJC team, nullifying any attack, while their constant probing left VJC fans with the gnawing dread of another MJC goal.
Alex (VJC #10) then missed a one-on-one situation to leave the score unchanged and the miss would haunt VJC.
VJC’s Jasper gave away another free-kick to MJC and this time Attah Joseph (#21) stepped up. Of all the people in the VJC wall, Joseph’s blast chose to take a wicked deflection off the head of Jasper and the ball hit the back of the net while VJC keeper Ifwat was left flat footed. VJC, and Jasper, were feeling particularly unlucky by now.
With MJC holding their first lead of the game at 2-1, VJC did not look likely to score. But an individual piece of finishing by Alex changed the scoreline. VJC keeper Ifwat’s kick upfield was met by the head of Anders Aplin (VJC #9). Another teammate met Anders’ header with another flick on and the ball landed nicely in the path of Alex who bore down on the right side of the MJC penalty box.
VJC fans wondered: Was he going to shoot? His answer was instantaneous – a blast with his right leg that arrowed across the diving body of MJC keeper Edmund Wong to nestle in the far corner of the net. A predator’s goal and the score was now 2-2. Game on.
After the excitement of the first half with four goals and lots of action, the second half was an anti-climax. The 3pm start was taking its toll as players from both teams started going down with cramps. The most pained sufferer was Attah Joseph (MJC #21) whose cramp was so severe that his bulging thigh muscles were rigid with cramp and he had to be carried off the pitch.
With the injuries, the game was going nowhere as a spectacle but with the passing minutes, the tension ratcheted up. A goal at this late juncture would surely spell the winner.
MJC had two golden chances to score through Joseph Tai (MJC #23), the second of which was a header that was headed for goal but Ifwat pulled off a stupendous save to make up for his first half error.
The miss of the game though, was by Alex (VJC #10), this year’s top scorer with 16 goals.
A blistering shot by Anders (VJC #9) from outside the box was not held by MJC keeper Edmund. The ball spilled loose and bounced up nicely into the path of the onrushing Alex. However, from less than 2m from the goal line and with the whole goal gaping before him, he somehow contrived to put the ball over the bar.
Even though the ball fell to his weaker left leg, he pounded the ground in extreme frustration while the VJC bench saw coach Tan Yew Hwee sprawl to the ground like he had been shot. The VJC bench must have thought this was going to be a repeat of the 2008 final where Alex also missed chances that cost them the championship title.
By this time, everyone was expecting extra-time but the final act was yet to be played out. In the second minute of extra time, a throw in by Cephas Ong was headed on by Anders Aplin. In the middle was the waiting Muhammad Khairil (VJC #5). Rising with him were two MJ defenders but Khairil got his head to the ball first.
It was not a hard header but the ball’s bounce fooled MJC keeper Edmund and went in to send the VJC crowd into delirium. 3-2 to VJC was how it finished, and VJC put to bed their 1-2 loss to MJC in last year’s final.
In an on-field incident witnessed by many and sure to be discussed for days on end, the MJC taunt to VJC to “go fly kite” got the better of VJC’s Khairil and he made a mocking gesture – putting his thumb on his nose and wiggling his fingers – to the MJC crowd in return after teammate Alex scored the second VJC goal.
After getting scolded by coach Tan Yew Hwee immediately after the incident, Khairil was marched to the MJC principal after the game by his coach and made to apologise.
“That kind of game, heart attack!” said VJC coach Tan Yew Hwee. “The chances they missed!”
The winning goal was unexpected.
“The goal was a soft goal,” he said.
For MJC, this was their fifth A Division final appearance in a row.
“That’s football,” said MJC coach Fabio Fanticelle Da Silva. “It was a loss of concentration in the last two minutes.”
“It was a very good save by the VJC keeper,” said coach Fabio, referring to the save from Joseph Tai (MJC #23) in the dying moments of the second half.
“Last year was our year, this year is their time. Our boys worked very hard and we have very good support from the principal and teachers.”
MJC are also well placed for A Division football honours next year.
“Seven of the players will be back next year,” coach Fabio confirmed.
“It’s really honourable to score in the final on such a big stage,” said Muhd Khairil, the scorer of the winning goal and who also bagged the man-of-the-match award. “Lucky the ball went in. We had many chances to score but we threw it away.”
Khairil finished the season with four goals, but that last one will live long in the memory for him and VJC.
It was a thrilling match. Great game by the both sides!
My favorite goal of the match would have to be the second goal for MJC from their captain! It was such a beautiful free-kick!
About the incident, let just all agree that VJC#5 was being childish – I think it is pretty funny actually that somebody who is already 17 and in a great JC would do that childish gesture. Reminds me of what I used to do in kindergarten. It really brings back memories… You know, the nah-nah-boo-boo tune that goes with it? haha. So MJCians, why don’t you all just pretend (hm, I think you all might not even need to pretend, pretty convincing) that it was just a kid doing that… And a kid should be forgiven by mature adults that you all are, right?
As for the cheers, aiyo, please correct me if the following sweeping statements is wrong: “All schools have cheers that taunt in one way or another.”
What I am really upset is that the MJC players were injured physically when such injuries could have been avoided… It upsets me that such accidents can even happen. Bad luck I guess…
And oh besides the game, I would say nice display of sportsmanship from the MJC players who helped the VJCians, great goals by both sides and the not-too-bad refereeing. =)
Aye de more we post de more we all sound like 6 yr olds so 😀 leave it be alr(:
LOL , you people are.
Childish. Be it from Mj, Vj or whichever where.
It’s like ntg goes into everyone’s head that everyone got their own perception and stands to take on.
Biting off one another like that.
Man, nobody can comment on anybody being sorelosers or what.
Cos we are all behaving as one ourselves.
Tis is way to never ending. Can’t be bothered.
Think what you want, say what you like. Distorted the facts, make up the lies, hold your stand, repress the other, twisted the right from wrong and the wrong from right. Yawn. Can’t believe we are young adults who are degrading ourselves.
Signing off for good. Enjoy all the bombards.
Anyways, Kudos to neutral. Good point made. Not the incidents or cheer’s problem. the problems lie in human beings. That inc me 😀 Bye! Good day.
you guys need to just build a bridge and get over it.
It’s all over already.
Even though MJC soccer team lost to VJC 2-3 in a tightly-contested match, Meridians should be proud that despite with only a six-year history, the college have reached their fifth consecutive football final in six years of competition.
If the victory may lead to them be proud and arrogant, then I would rather they lose. Because the loss has not only make them realised that they are not invincible, but more importantly, it has united all Meridians behind one common cause: to support MJC wholeheartedly. This is TRUE VICTORY!!!
True victory is about winning hearts and minds of people not the achievement itself. Very often, we lived in this achievement-oriented society, we forget the true essence of victory. Nothing is more precious than winning the hearts and minds of people.
It’s so proud to know that MJC students displayed a tremendous amount of grace and humility regardless of the outcome. For soccer, MJC players helped their opponents when they were injured. For band, MJC students offered condolences when other bands like VJC band didn’t clinch the Gold award during SYF and many other more instances.
It’s sad to know that not only did students from other colleges not show the same form of respect, they showed off their proud behaviour in front of everyone. That infamous display showcased the darkest side of human – pride.
For MJC students, you have done yourselves proud by displaying the true spirit of Meridian – born of the vision to be the BEST – to be the best in everything, in this case, true sportsmanship.
I am a very proud to see Meridian footballers putting up the highly commendable sportsmanship. I saw one of the MJC player giving a helping hand to the VJC player who had a muscle cramp. I feel that is really nice because they have displayed the true meaning of sportsmanship. I am actually very disappointed to see Khairil making a mocking gesture. An action speaks a thousand word. Well, even though MJC may have lost to VJC, I feel that when it comes to sportsmanship, MJC deserves to be the Champion. That is the way game should be played. All the best MJC!!!
hey man..i dun think mjc are sore losers. i honestly were impressed with them.Did u see how they were always very sportsmen-like..esp the captain,no 7, they always helped their opponents up..but like i dunnoe..i get that slight feeling of pride with SOME of the vj players..forget the no 5 incident. there were many other instances when i thought the vj boys were like being very proud or just walked off in denial when they made a clear foul..some even didn’t even bother helping their opponents up when they were down. i noticed no 11 in particular..he was like asking for it…but on the whole..it was a TERRIFIC game for both sides. great job to both teams..but yea nice one vj
ps: pls stop talking abt go fly kite…for goodness skae..its a cheer..oh my goodness…its just a cheer thats supposed to make ppl laugh not be angered..stop the big hooha abt the cheer..cos its not the cheer thats the problem
Actually im fom vj but during the match i was standing at the mjc stands cos i was meeting up with my secondary school friends.
i saw the whole thing with khairil, him mocking mjc.
and as a victorian, i felt embarrassed that a player we deemed to be one of the best behaved in such a way. i thought it was really really humiliating for vj.
i guess mjc’s anger at that was called for because you had to be there on their side to know what it was like, and it definitely was an ugly side of competition we always wish we didnt have to see.
actually mj’s fly kite cheer was not taunting at all. seriously, it was catchy and i found myself singing along. its not as if they said “vjc can go fly kite” they sang “all the rest can go fly kite” i thought its normal what
[Ed – text deleted]
its just unlucky that in this whole process, Vj’s image of sportsmanship has been defaced.
everyone always seems to ‘see red’ after reading the articles on this site.
hurr hurr. sorry, couldn’t resist.
not so neutral
a lack of sportmanship constitutes many different aspects. The debate of go fly kite bears testament to the fact that there are people who are also in the opinion that MJ do not display the sportmanship that they find lacking in #5 and this smacks of hypocrisy on the MJ side.
Haiyaaaa…. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
VJC – Congrats!
MJC – Good game but there’s always next year…
A match well played.
Good sportsmanship.
Please don’t tarnish the beautiful game of soccer… be it with whichever team.
Gawd.. and here is where i wanna start…
MJC SUPPORTERS… be sporting… and stop all this childish attacks… behaving like crybabies…
There’s always ‘actions’ deliberate or otherwise in a soccer game. You supporters must be out of your mind to react like a hooligans. Creating uproar in this forum over it… come on.. don’t tell me this is the first time u guys witness such incidences… It’s because VJC wins that makes u guys behave like a sorelosers…blowing up small issues..
ANYWAY #player 5 apologise sincere or not(another unintelligent comment given by some ppl) at least he APOLOGISE! Like duh!? Are you GOD to judge his sincerity??
So please…
MJCs (players, supporters) just accept the apology graciously and behave professionally…. and move on!!! Get it!!?
Can we move on to other intelligent comments please… really getting tired of all this tantrums… can’t believe u ppl still harping abt this stuffs….
hey hey peace(: Game’s over and VJ won. MJ played their hearts out and was courageous. AND! the spectators are NOT the point!
Had to admit VJ had great tactics. They kind of dominated the 2nd half eii? Hmm I thought tt MJ’s keeper was pretty awesome. He continued his role on the field defending for MJ despite his nosebleed (he was in great pain after being booted in the face D: ouch). Both sides’ players had their tough times, leg cramps and all, but they fought on did they not? As for sportsmanship, I thought that VJ’s #20 was especially gracious(: so were MJ dudes (no bias view here, honest) &&&&&!!! those at the stands were simply cheering their hearts out (absolutely no intention to jeer or taunt or whatsoever ya’ll were thinking) for their soccer players 😀 It was a great game![jus my humble view since i was never a soccer fan but the match seemed pretty exciting, the first 1/2 especially]
Umm but the poll up dere is rather redundant tho. might wanna remove tt if not we’ll have a load of unhappiness. -.-
YAY!
I am at MJC’s side.
Please stop trivialising the entire issue about a lack of sportsmanship displayed by No.5 on the field with a hilariously low-minded debate on the usage of “go fly kite”.
You know, I’ve noticed that MJC students always make a huge fuss whenever they lose. This doesn’t reflect well on their school. Perhaps they should avoid making excessive comments.
HAHAHA no.6 who celebrated is kus kus rite rite!
i was there at the jalan besar interested in watching the a div finals. what VJC#5 did was out of pure gamesmanship. Sure it was disrespectful and we cannot deny that, but it was brought by an overwhelming surge of emotions due to the equaliser as well as the MJC crowd.
MJC did nothing wrong with their cheers in my opinion. ‘Go Fly Kite’ may be considered as a taunt, but in football taunting is all part and parcel of the game. Even in professional football, they mock the opposing fans/team yet all is done in good spirit and forgotten after the game. Maybe it is new in the A division, where surely everyone expects school children to just cheer for their school and that’s it? I do not know, but the issue for me is blown out of proportion.
For the game itself, i felt that the goals were interesting, yet the build-up play was lacking. Most of the game involved pumping long balls, especially in the second half. Yet it was a good match to watch as a neutral and congratulations to both the teams for making the finals and putting up a memorable final.
firstly, i dont see any courage in the act of #5 coming to apologise to the our principal. in fact, im quite sure he was DRAGGED over to apologise. the fact that he had to be dragged is enough of proof that he was not in anyway repentent. and come on, if “all the rest can go fly kite” is a taunt, then people should have raised this issue when mj first used it. we’ve used it before, last yr too. WE HAVE USED IT FOR YRS. dont blame in on mj. if anyone is to be blamed, i think #5 should shoulder the blame himself. why is it that all the other vj players but #5 displayed enough maturity to not let statements like this affect them? i wouldnt say that everyone is perfect and dont make mistakes, but statements like “he’s only 17” are obviously not good enough reasons as to why he shouldnt be penalised for his mocking gesture. even before he did that gesture, he should have thought of the amt of disgrace that he will bring for his school.
and to whoever who think that what #5 did was not mocking in anyway, i suggest you let him mock your school in a sports match like this. even if you insist on saying that our cheer was a taunt, i dont think he should have behaved so immaturely and return a mock too. it just displays his level of maturity to the mj audience.
im not trying to insult the officials who made the decision of giving him the MoM award, neither am i sore abt the vj side getting the award. i just think that even if he was the player who helped vj obtain the final victory, i think his behaviour has already showed that he’s not fit to be called a sportsman. he doesnt deserve to be a school representative, whats more fight for the title?
for people who think that mj is sore abt losing, i dont think we are. this morning’s applause for our soccer players is more than enough to prove that we love our soccer players. im sure we’re fine abt losing, because we know our boys have tried their best.
and about the college anthem thing: i think the victorians should realise that singing without the music makes it difficult for the mj side to hear. if you guys want us to respect your college anthem too, pls realise that it wasnt intentional. the fact that mj managed to play our school song LOUD AND CLEAR over the speakers proved that it can be done. and if the sch really cared abt the victory, they would have prepared the college anthem.
on a side note, to 87: i believe you’re not our principal, so what makes you think she didn’t question the sincerity of #5’s apology. accepting it is one thing, accepting it with all your heart is another. and keeping quiet doesnt prove his innocence in anyway either. keeping mum because of his guilty conscience is just as likely. whether or not he did wrong to mj, especially one of our players, i think he knows best. and from what i see, his silence doesnt prove his innocence.
Haha i like the picture caption
“Which the VJC no.6 is intent in taking part”
Haha, Vjc No.6 = marcus (:
OH. MY. GOD. FOR SANITY’S SAKE, HIS GESTURE IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL. VICTORIA ARE CHAMPIONS. PERIOD.
People, i bet if MJ had won, you guys wouldn’t be making such a big fuss about this. Really, honestly, what #5 did, i don’t blame him.How would you feel if you were the ones on the field and people were jeering at you or your team mate? I bet most of you would’ve done the same too. Talk is cheap, none of us are in the position to comment on what #5 did. So suck it up and leave him alone.