Story by REDintern Jiexin Neo. Photos by REDintern Clara Yuan
NUS players celebrating their win. (Photo 1 © REDintern Clara Yuan)
NUS Sports and Recreation Centre, Saturday, February 8, 2014 — National University of Singapore (NUS) beat Nanyang Technological University (NTU) 17–16 in the sudden death penalty shoot-out to emerge champions in the NUS Water Polo Open.
Chiam Kun Yang (NUS #7), Koh Jian Ying (NUS #12) and Paul Tan (NTU #6) all scored a game-high five goals each.
NTU showcased good teamwork from the start and opened the scoring with a well-executed offensive play. The ball was passed from Ng Ray Lim (#4) to Francis Koh (#2), who then made a mark on the score sheet with a goal from just in front of the post. Paul Tan (#6) was a threat defensively as he made good shot blocks, igniting constant cheers from the crowd. Offensively he was aggressive in the water and managed to beat his defender for a goal. Toh Zhi Hong (#9) fired another one into the net to give NTU a 3–0 lead at the end the first quarter.
NUS struggled with plays and their shots were off-target in the first quarter. Koh Jian Ying (#12) tried to find the net with a couple of shots but failed as his attempts were all saved.
In the second quarter, NUS were more focused on defence, and they managed to limit NTU’s offensive plays. Jian Ying (#12) stepped up his game and scored twice this quarter. A goal from Chiam Kun Yang (#7) and two from Jian Ying (#12), managed to trim NTU’s lead down to a single point, with two minutes to go in the first half.
However, NTU managed to pull away with good team effort. One goal each from Eden Tay (#5) and Francis Koh (#2) gave NTU a 6–3 lead going into the break.
Ng Kan Leong (#11) of NTU converted an offensive rebound a minute into the third quarter, making it 7–3. However NUS responded promptly with one goal from Toh Yida (#9) and a penalty goal from Kun Yang (#7) to reduce the deficit to two (5–7).
NUS continued to make aggressive defensive efforts and forced NTU to take flustered shots in the third quarter. NUS outscored NTU in this third quarter to trail 8–9 going into the fourth.
The final quarter started at a relatively fast pace with NTU desperately trying to keep their lead. It seemed like all was lost for NUS as time ticked away, but following foul troubles on the NTU side, NUS managed to capitalize on their penalties to tie the game at 11–11 with only four seconds remaining. This dramatic turn of events brought the NUS supporters to their feet and also pushed the game to a penalty shoot-out.
The five penalty shooters from NUS were Gilbert Beh (#2), Gerard Low (#5), Kun Yang (#7), Yida (#9) and Jian Ying (#12). Those from NTU were Francis (#2), Eden (#5), Paul (#6), Zhi Hong (#9) and Kan Leong (#11).
Both teams scored three penalties each and the final went into a nerve-wracking, sudden-death shootout.
It was two goals each from the teams before Jian Ying (#12) put NUS 3–2 up. NTU then missed their penalty and NUS erupted in pure joy.
NUS captain Benjamin Tan (#10) said, “It was pretty tense. I think both teams played very well. We had good defence and attacked well. Good effort by NTU too. It was a pity we had to go down to the penalties.”
Toh Zhi Hong (#9) of NTU said, “I think it was a very close game. Both teams played well. It was a good fight, but at the end it was circumstances that we couldn’t control.”
Scoring by Quarter
NUS vs NTU
1Q: 0–3
2Q: 3–3 (3–6)
3Q: 5–3 (8–9)
4Q: 3–2 (11–11)
Penalty Shootout
NUS 3 NTU 3
(14–14)
Sudden-Death Shootout
NUS 3 NTU 2
(17–16)
Final Score
NUS 17 NTU 16
Top Scorers
NUS
Chiam Kun Yang (#7) – 5 points
Koh Jian Ying (#12) – 5 points
NTU
Tan Jwee Ann Paul (#6) – 5 points
NUS Roster
Ng Han (#1), Gilbert Beh (#2), Jun Jin Sei (#3), Willis Lin (#4), Gerard Low (#5), Yip Kang (#6), Chiam Kun Yang (#7), Ervin Sethi (#8), Toh Yida (#9), Benjamin Tan (#10), Marcus Lee (#11), Koh Jian Ying (#12), Chia Zhong Han (#13), Tan Zhi Yang, Lim Shi Hong
NTU Roster
Kenryu Wang (#1), Francis Koh Ming Liang (#2), Kuek Yong Wei Alvin (#3), Ng Ray Lim (#4), Tay Xin Jie Eden (#5), Tan Jwee Ann Paul (#6), Tseng Wei Chong Edward (#7), Matthey Tan Tian En (#8), Toh Zhi Hong (#9), Tan Zhi Yong Gabriel (#10), Ng Kan Leong (#11), Vishal Rajesh (#12), Terence Tan Jia Yu (#13)
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