SAJC trump RI 3-1 to top second round group in A Division football

Story by REDintern Delle Chan. Pictures by REDintern YQ Lee

St. Andrew’s Junior College, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 – St. Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) trumped Raffles Institution (RI) 3-1 to emerge top dog of Group X in the second round of the A Division Football Championship.

Both teams had already cemented their places in the semi-final stages of the championship but still took the match seriously in their respective bids to claim the top spot in their group.

Buoyed by vocal home support, SAJC started the match more promisingly, scoring just three minutes into the game when Foo Ming Yi (#22) drove a fierce volley home past the hapless RI goalkeeper.

However, RI soon responded. In the 11th minute, Vuong Gia Hieu (#19) managed to poke the ball into the net after a goal-mouth scramble, levelling the scoreline at 1-1.

Both sides continued to pressure the goalkeepers and chalked up a few notable shots on goal. In the 17th minute, an ensuing header from an SAJC corner kick went just wide of its target. Likewise, in the 26th minute, RI’s Vuong Gia Hieu (#19) attempted another shot at goal, only to be foiled by a spectacular save from the SAJC goalkeeper, Lee Shi Tong (#19).

SAJC’s efforts finally bore fruit when they managed to put another goal past RI with 28 minutes on the clock. Captain Neville Chia (#21) connected with a corner kick and headed the ball into the net to put his side in the lead.

The second half of the match was relatively quiet, but SAJC managed to extend their lead further in the 56th minute. Foo Ming Yi (#22) scored his second goal of the game, bundling the ball into the net after yet another goal-mouth melee, putting his side 3-1 ahead.

RI were quick on the counter-attack, with Vuong Gia Hieu (#19) forging towards the goalposts right after the restart, only to be denied by the SAJC goalkeeper, Lee Shi Tong (#19).

Despite further concerted attempts on goal, RI were generally unable to get around SAJC’s defense, and the game eventually ended 3-1 in the latter’s favour.

SAJC’s coach, Roland Lee, praised his side, saying, “It was a professional performance, and they did what they were told to do. We met our targets for the game, which were to not incur any new injuries or yellow cards. Overall, it was a good and even game.”

SAJC will now face Victoria Junior College (VJC) in the semi-finals, whilst RI will take on Meridian Junior College (MJC).

In an earlier match, Yishun Junior College (YJC) beat Catholic Junior College (CJC) 3-2.

Final Score
SAJC 3 RI 1

Scorers
SAJC – Foo Ming Yi 3′, 56′; Neville Chia 28′
RI – Vuong Gia Hieu 11′

SAJC squad
Lee Shi Tong (#19, GK), Tan Wei Zhen (#2), Kang Yun Yi (#3), Cheng Guang Fu (#6), Chow Jiachuan (#7), Muhammad Asyraf (#8), Pradeep (#11), Darren Hedger (#13), Gregory Noah (#14), Neville Chia (#21, captain), Foo Ming Yi (#22), Neo Junhe (#5), Lim Wuqi (#9), Herbin Koh Puay Teck (#10), Goh Jin Rui (#18), Josef Low (#16)

RI squad
Andrew Chua Ruiming (#1, GK), Li Jinghui (#2), Muhammad Nuri Bin Mohamed Shafei (#5, captain), Nguyen Nhat Quang (#10), Varun Vijayraghavan (#11), Nguyen Duy Anh (#12), Pranav Malhotra (#13), Hoang The Huan (#14), James Kwong Kam Yin (#16), Yi Hao (#17), Ong Zhi Hao (#18), Daniel Ng Wei Liang (#3), Kwa Jie Hao (#7), Alvan Tay Wei De (#8), Ng Wee Meng (#4), Ngo Hoang Gia (#6), Vuong Gia Hieu (#19), Tran Trung Nguyen (#21), Cui Jianqiao (#23), Benjamin Ng Boon Chong (#20, GK)

N.B. If you know the starting lineups for each side, do let us know and we’ll update the post. Thanks.

Go to the SCHOOLS FIXTURES & RESULTS page for more information