A Div Football: VJC leave it late to beat ACJC 3-2 to win 3rd place

By Stefanus Ian/Red Sports

Wong Jian Hao (ACJC #20) heading in the team's second goal. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)

Jalan Besar Stadium, Wednesday, May 23, 2012 — Victoria Junior College (VJC) came from behind to grab third place in the National A Division Boys’ Football Championship after defeating Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 3-2 in extra-time.

VJC were made to work hard after falling behind in the second half before equalising in the dying minutes to bring the match into extra time. The 2011 runners-up clinched third after they scored the winning goal in the first half of extra time.

“I believe the two teams were very close and VJC came out on top based on their fitness,” said ACJC coach, Ong Jin Yi, after the match.

VJC have only missed the final twice in the last five years while it has been three years since ACJC have made it into the top four.

Between the two, ACJC were the team who settled in quicker into the game. Displaying composure on the ball, the boys in red were able to register their first shot within the first two minutes. Effective simple passing just outside the box allowed Clarence Chan to test VJC early on, although his tame shot was easily saved by VJC’s Horatio Ho in goal.

Despite being the underdogs, ACJC were more comfortable on the ball and looked hungrier. Their attackers, in particular, combined well to create quite a number of chances. ACJC had their best chance in the half when Jacob Chin made a clever cutback after some brilliant work down the right flank. The chance came to nought, though, as Eugene Tan ballooned his volley despite being under no pressure.

Everything seemed to be going well for ACJC as they were playing with purpose and creating chances. However, it took a single mistake to undo all that good work. A late challenge by Karthik on Santosh Magar gave VJC a free kick just outside the middle-right side of the penalty area.

Muhammad Iskandar, VJC’s dead-ball specialist, calmly put the boys in white ahead against the run of play. Bryan Lim could only palm the ball into the net as Iskandar’s free kick dipped into the right bottom corner.

ACJC were visibly shocked as they began to lose their earlier verve. Victoria, on the other hand, had some chances to pull further ahead but could not capitalise.

After half time, both teams struggled to dominate possession and it looked like it was not ACJC’s day when Eugene Tan failed to convert a glorious chance just before the hour mark. Unmarked and with room to breathe, he could not keep his shot down after Jacob Chin sent a teasing cross across the goalmouth.

A lesser team would have folded but not ACJC as they clawed themselves back into the game. In the 66th minute, Yeo Keng Yi, a second half substitute, tapped home from close range after the VJC custodian failed to palm a cross to safety. The match was levelled at 1-1.

Three minutes later, Wong Jian Hao, also a second half substitute, challenged Horatio Ho in the air and emerged victorious to put ACJC ahead for the first time in the match, following Ryan Ho’s smart flick-on. The score was now 2-1 in ACJC’s favour.

ACJC seemed destined to capture third place until VJC’s skipper Khairul Anwar equalised to the delirium of the VJC supporters. Despite playing as a central defender, the player surged forward during a counter-attack and was rewarded. Santosh Magar, who had been a thorn in ACJC’s defence all afternoon, noticed the run of his captain and played him through on goal. Khairul Anwar was cool and composed, beating the goalkeeper and grabbing the equaliser for his team two minutes from time.

“I told them the crowd is here to cheer them on so they need to jolly well live up to their standards. I felt that Khairul really led by example today the way he equalised for us,” said Tan Yew Hwee, VJC’s coach.

Santosh felt that his team’s grit got them through in the end.

“We know we are a good team but sometimes things don’t go our way, at 2-1 down we know we cannot give up until the last whistle,” said Santosh.

Buoyed by their momentum, VJC took the game to ACJC in extra time. For all of ACJC’s guns-blazing style, the result was harsh on them as they fell to another free kick from Muhammad Iskandar. Bryan Lim fumbled his catch and watched with horror as the ball bounced into his goal.

If they were to go down, they would go down with style. That seemed to be ACJC’s reprieve as Jacob Chin and Eugene Tan continued pulling tricks in the dying minutes of the second half of extra time. It might have been a harsh result but overall it has been a successful season for them.

“I am proud of my team as they showed a lot of bite, although the result could be cruel. In my eyes, we are always a top four team,” said coach Jin Yi.

Final Result
VJC 3 ACJC 2 (after extra time)

Scorers
Muhammad Iskandar (VJC #4) — 17′, 87′(ET)
Khairul Anwar (VJC #16) — 80′
Whang I-en (ACJC #10) — 66′
Darwish Ruzain (ACJC #20) — 69′

VJC Lineup
Horatio Ho (GK), Santosh Magar (#10), Hieng Pheak Kdey (#9), Shen Hao (#7), Ho Ren Yi Jonas (#13), Khairul Anwar B Mohd Mashren (#16), Lee Si Yuan Paul (#17), Wilbert Lim Foong (#5), Ong Kang Sheng (#3), Muhammad Iskandar (#4), Muhammad Deferdauz (#12)

Substitutes:
Mohamad Shijudeen (VJC #14) 40’for
(VJC #12) for (VJC #19) 52′
Ryan Wee (VJC #2) for Wilbert Lim (VJC #5)

ACJC Lineup
Bryan Lim (GK), Muhammad Aqil (#2), Eugene Tan (#5), Jarrell Tan (#7), Clarence Chan (#8), Whang I-en (#11), Arnachalam (#13), Jacob Chin (#15), Ryan Ho (#17), G Irufan (#21), Darwish Ruzain (#23)

Substitutes:
Wong Jian Hao (ACJC #20) for Whang I-en (ACJC #11) 45′
Lee Cheng Shaun (ACJC #14) for Arunachalam (ACJC #13)
Yeo Keng Yi (ACJC #10) for G Irufan (ACJC #21) 64′