Story by Carissa Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan/Red Sports.
Players fighting for possession of the ball. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)
Nanyang Junior College, Thursday, April 9, 2015 — Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) triumphed 4–0 over Catholic Junior College (CJC) in the National A Division Football Championship. This is NYJC’s third straight victory.
NYJC had the upper hand in terms of skill and teamwork. They were nearly always first to the ball and communicated effectively to launch combination plays.
Barely five minutes into the game, a corner kick sent CJC defenders scrambling into the box. CJC defenders failed to clear this in time, and Nguyen Hoang Dong (NYJC #7) rocketed the opening goal in from close quarters.
CJC were visibly shaken by NYJC’s early lead as they blindly cleared the ball every time it came close to their side.
Although CJC were quick to clear, NYJC had multiple opportunities at goal. However, they were unable to convert as most of their shots went wide.
25 minutes into the game, NYJC captain, Muhammad Hakim (#11), eventually widened the lead as he navigated through a few CJC defenders to calmly place the ball out of the goalkeeper’s reach.
NYJC’s ability to switch plays effortlessly across the width of the field greatly bolstered their attack. CJC players were struggling to keep up. In addition, CJC’s attempts to attack were generally unsuccessful as lobs forward lacked precision. NYJC players were able to intercept many of CJC’s long passes forward before they became threatening.
In the second half, NYJC picked up momentum but were unable to finish their crosses for more goals. CJC played a very defensive game as they clustered deep into their own half.
A cross from Ferdinand Lim (#2) was unintentionally converted into a goal when CJC goalkeeper, Raphael Goh (#99), fumbled with the ball.
Muhammad Hakim (#11) stepped up once more to score the fourth goal for his team. NYJC strikers drew CJC defenders into the penalty box and passed it out to Hakim (#11), who seized the opportunity to fire a shot into the bottom right corner.
Despite CJC’s best efforts, they were unable to narrow the score deficit and the match concluded in a 4–0 win for NYJC.
NYJC captain, Muhammad Hakim (#11), said, “I think the game was good. CJC weren’t the easiest opponents but we were patient in our play. We knocked around (passes), shifted together and waited for the right moment to attack.”
This is CJC’s second loss. With this win, NYJC has won all their three matches. They currently top their group and will next face St. Joseph’s Institution (International), while CJC will face Temasek Junior College. Both matches will be played at Temasek Junior College on April 14, at 3 p.m. and 4.45 p.m. respectively.
Scoring by half
NYJC vs CJC
1st half: 2–0
2nd half: 2–0 (4–0)
Scorers
NYJC
Muhammad Hakim Bin Idris (#11) – 2 goals
Nguyen Hoang Dong (#7) – 1 goal
Ferdinand Lim Jun Long (#2) – 1 goal
NYJC Roster
Gareth Keigan Lee Zong De (#1), Ferdinand Lim Jun Long (#2), Darryl Ong Wei Xiang (#3), Tang Guang Yan (#4), Muhammad Danish B Sallehuddin (#5), Christian Hugh Rodrigues (#6), Nguyen Hoang Dong (#7), Kiefer Tay Si Yi (#8), Thong Giggs (#9), Lim Ngee Liang Jonathan (#10), Muhammad Hakim Bin Idris (#11), Loh Wei Zhi (#12), Mohammad Ilyasa B Ismmail (#13), Aavan Lee Kuan Ing (#14), Muhammad Danish Bin Arifin (#15), Lee Jun Jie (#16), Chiang Ken Ji (#17), Raimie Khuzami Bin Ibrahim (#18), Jalvin Nai Guang Jun (#19), Larry Lee Ken Ann (#20)
CJC Roster
Cavyn Chong Weixuan (#2), Koh Yuan Hao Timothy (#3), Esan Nadarajah (#4), Muhammad Abdillah Siddique B A (#6), Ho Yi Xuan (#7), Mak Ethan (#8), Sean Rene Gabriel (#9), Haziq B Hasbullah (#10), Nonis Keith Matthew (#11), Shaun Ng Wei Jie (#12), Loh Chih Wei (#13), Leong Whye Kit Joshua (#16), Chong Mun Hou Timothy (#18), Nathan Wee Jia Le (#20), Wong Zhi-Yan Ian (#21), Chung Yong Shih Jonathan (#22), Ryan Chua (#25), Teo Jun Hui Jernon (#26), Wong Yu Le (#27), Raphael Goh Hock Chye (#99)
National A Division Boys’ Football Championship – fixtures and results
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