Story by Ryan Lim/Red Sports. Photos by Les Tan/Red Sports
Nathanael Chin (MJC #9) scores the only goal of the game with a header in the first half. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Millennia Institute, Tuesday, April 26, 2016 — Meridian Junior College (MJC) secured a 1-0 victory over Victoria Junior College (VJC) to qualify for the semi-finals of the National A Division Football Championship.
Despite the loss, VJC also qualified for the semi-finals after St. Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) drew 1-1 with Millennia Institute (MI).
Both MJC and VJC had ended Round 1 with five wins out of five. However, in Round 2, both teams had a draw each to drop their first points of the Championship.
Sitting at the top of Group Y with four points each before this game, there was little to separate MJC and VJC. However, MJC have scored 41 goals and conceded just two this campaign. In contrast, VJC have scored just 14 and conceded one.
The game began in scrappy fashion, with both sides struggling to make a breakthrough.
VJC’s first effort came from a foul outside the penalty area. Centre-back Ahmad Taufiq (VJC #19) delivered a curling free kick that went wide of goal.
At the 10 minute mark, a VJC defender had to clear off the line to prevent MJC from scoring the opening goal.
The first 20 minutes of the game saw inaccurate passes to lethargic off-the-ball movement, with neither team looking threatening.
Justin Hui (MJC #4) had a chance from less than 5m out in the penalty box but VJC crowded their penalty area to deflect the shot away.
Muhammad Syakir (VJC #17) then made a dribble down the right flank before making a sharp turn into the penalty area. His eventual left-footed shot went over the bar.
MJC came close when a pass from the right wing found midfielder Justin Hui (MJC #4) making a late run into the box. The effort from the player missed the target.
MJC scored 10 minutes before half time. Justin Hui (MJC #4) scooped a pinpoint cross towards Nathanael Chin (MJC #9) whose accurate header saw the ball bounce past goalkeeper Jonas Andersen (VJC #1)’s judgement as it snuck under him and into the goal. MJC lead 1-0.
Justin Hui (MJC #4) dictacted play in the centre of the park, with almost every attack going through him. The playmaker’s passing and shooting ability made him a thorn in the VJC defence.
VJC then had a chance when MJC centre-back Hong Seung Jun (MJC #6) slipped while making a clearance. VJC striker CT Karuppiah Arasu (VJC #9) pounced on the mistake but before he could get to the ball, the other half of the centre-back pairing, Joel Ang (MJC #5), outmuscled the striker for the keeper to collect.
VJC’s forward line and midfield switched positions, but they struggled to penetrate the MJC defence as they hunted for the equalizer.
The half ended with MJC on top, at 1-0.
Play resumed with MJC’s towering forward Haziq Syamil (MJC #3) coming into the midfield during goal kicks, for headed flick-ons. He stood a head above every other player on the field, winning almost every header he contested for.
MJC had the greater share of possession for most parts of the second half.
Goalkeeper Dagan Lim (MJC #25) provided a safe pair of hands in goal as he intercepted a cross and held on to the ball despite being knocked over in a late challenge.
MJC continued their search for the second goal as Royston Tan (MJC #10) put his laces through a strike but goalkeeper Jonas Andersen (VJC #1) easily saved.
An aerial challenge from Haziq Syamil (MJC #3) then left Scott Foong (VJC #21) on the ground, leaving the referee no choice but to brandish a yellow card for foul play.
Nathanael Chin (MJC #9) then broke past the VJC defence to get onto the end of a through pass. He comfortably slotted the ball into the back of the net only to realise that the linesman had raised his flag for offside.
VJC struggled to break into the attacking third, often misplacing their passes or getting tackled.
MJC continued to drive forward and dominate the game, while VJC faded.
Royston Tan (MJC #10) made another skillful dribble down the left wing, making a short pass into the box that Bhavin Assandas (MJC #7) struggled to control, wasting an opportunity.
The final whistle cemented MJC’s place in the semi-finals as the only unbeaten team left. Despite tasting defeat for the first time this campaign, VJC also managed to qualify after SAJC dropped points against MI to miss out on the semi-finals.
Captain of MJC, Dagan Lim (MJC #25) commented after the match, “The game was a little tight, we started off quite nervous. But soon, we managed to get the goal through our hardwork. After a while, they started pressing us a lot, it takes a lot of grit for us to hold VJC. VJC is a very good team. It takes a lot to beat them, and they played well.”
On qualifying for the semi-finals, he added, “We will take it game by game, we will focus on the next game. We will keep it cool because we have won nothing yet.”
Commenting on his teammates, he said, “The reason why we won today is because we are brothers. We keep training together, we do everything together. This is not a team, this is a brotherhood. And that is the reason why MJC has always been up there.”
MJC will face Raffles Institution in the semi-finals while the other semi-final will see VJC go up against Anglo-Chinese Junior College.
Score by Half
MJC vs VJC
1st Half: 1-0
2nd Half: 0-0
Full-time: 1-0
Scorers
MJC
Nathanael Chin Wei En (MJC #9) – 1 goal
MJC Roster
Ivan Hoo Tian Yee (#1), Haziq Syamil B Ramli (#3), Justin Hui Yong Kang (#4), Ang Zhi Xian, Joel (#5), Hong Seung Jun (#6), Bhavin A Assandas (#7), Nathanael Chin Wei En (#9), Royston Tan Jia Jie (#10), Jazzmen Teo Jie Wen (#11), Muhammad Hud B A YUB (#12), Noorhakim B Abdul Halim (#13), Jalaluddin B Selamat (#14), Lim Azib B Adam (#15), Khairul Ilyas B Ishak (#16), Koh Casey Chester (#17), Loke Jian Hao, Calvin (#18), Akmal B Fazili (#19), Muhammad Syafiq B Mohd Said (#21), Defido (#22), Lim Sze Howe, Dagan (#25)
VJC Roster
Jonas Andersen (#1), Muhammad B Haa-Meed (#2), Xu Ang (#3), Ashwin Kalaichelvan (#4), Toe Keng Yong, Miguel (#5), Ryan Shane Chen (#6), Michael Sheng-En Collins (#7), Sheffield Lok Yu Chen (#8), CT Karuppiah Arasu (#9), Muhammad Sollehin B Muhd F B G (#10), Teo Weiheng, Nicholas (#12), Mark Lim Bo-Yang (#13), Jeff Teo Jiunn (#14), Dashmesh Singh Bajaj (#16), Muhammad Syakir B Mohd Azahar (#17), Desmond Chia Bing Yan (#18), Ahmad Taufiq B Rohaimi (#19), Foong Kah Meng Scott (#21), Tan Wei Hao Malcom (#22), Chia Han Xuan, Shaun (#23)
National A Division Football Championship – fixtures and results
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