Story by REDintern Darren Ho. Photos by Les Tan/Red Sports
Matin (SJI #9) goes up for the header. He scored the second goal of the game. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
St. Gabriel’s Secondary, Wednesday, March 23, 2016 – Defending zonal champions St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) have booked their passage into the semi-finals of the South Zone B Division Football Championship after a dominating 4-0 win over Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) [ACS(I)].
Both teams came into this fixture, which was played over two days because of lightning delays, needing all three points to guarantee a spot in the semi-finals. SJI were second in the group with three points, while ACS(I) had picked up two draws and were two points behind leaders Ang Mo Kio Secondary.
But it was the championship holders who came on top and snatched all three points to see them through with Mohamad Nasrul Matin (#9), Jared Ng (#10), and Bradley Leong (#11) playing key roles in setting up and scoring the goals.
ACS(I) found themselves trailing after three minutes, when a corner kick from Bradley (#11) was tapped in by Jeremy Silva (#6) for a 1-0 lead.
SJI took control of the proceedings and added a second when Matin (#9) picked up a through ball, cut through the ACS(I) defence and fired in to double the lead in the 25th min.
ACS(I) had a couple of chances to get back into the game and halve the deficit, but a series of wasted opportunities and well-organised defending from SJI denied them.
SJI went further ahead in the 47th minute. Another cross from Bradley (#11) into the penalty box found Jared (#10) who calmly curled a shot in off the inside of the post to make it 3-0.
ACS(I) did try to penertrate their opponents’ midfield and defence, but the relentless nature of the SJI side only left them with the option of just clearing the ball from their half of the field and hoping their striker could do something with the long ball.
ACS(I) hit the target when Jovian Goh (#7) drove an angled shot towards the near post, but SJI goalkeeper Julian Lowe (#1) saved.
SJI wrapped up the match after the hour mark, when a poor clearance by the ACS(I) defence handed Jacob Mahler (#8) the chance for a left bottom corner finish to seal the contest.
Goalscorer Matin (#9) said, “[The result] just give us a whole lot of confidence to move further and stick to how we play.”
He added, “Winning is always possible if we put our minds to it, don’t give up and push the game forward.”
SJI will next face St. Gabriel’s Secondary in the semi-finals at SAFRA Tampines on Monday, March 28. The match will kick-off at 3pm.
The other semi-final will see Ang Mo Kio Secondary take on Bendemeer Secondary at the same venue. Kick off is at 4.30pm.
Score by Half
SJI vs ACS(I)
1st Half: 2-0
2nd Half: 2-0
Full-time: 4-0
Scorers
SJI
Jeremy Silva (#6) – 1 goal (3rd min)
Mohamad Nasrul Matin (#9) – 1 goal (25th min)
Jared Ng (#10) – 1 goal (47th min)
Jacob Mahler (#8) – 1 goal (64th min)
SJI Roster
Julian Marc Lowe Ka-Chun (#1), Ahmad Mirza B Fazili (#2), Kiranraj Ramasamy (#3), Muhammad Zulkhairi B Hamdan (#4), Razin Muzakkir B Masyudi (#5), Jeremy Stephen Silva (#6), Mahler Jacob William (#8), Mohamad Nasrul Matin B M N (#9), Ng Yue Han, Jared (#10), Bradley Leong Jing Kai (#11), Kendrick Lim Tao Jin (#13), Naeemur Rahman B Akbar (#14), Haythuram S/O Elangkovan (#15), Tay Jerren (#16), Elijah Ang Chang Hao (#18), Pereira Brandon Scott (#19), Johannes Gan Dombrowski (#21), Kyle Tristan Goh (#22), Benitius Arjuna Soegiono (#24), Marcellinus Jerricho (#25)
ACS(I) Roster
Tan Yock Han (#1), Jeremiah Lee Ze Ming (#2), Woo Zhengyi Dean Dedric (#3), Keith Lee Rui Yi (#4), Mahir Faysal (#5), Lim Yi Rau Brennan (#6), Goh Wei Jia Jovian (#7), Ryan Ho Haoran (#8), Rezwan Ahmed (#9), Keith Goh Qi Guang (#10), Isaac Lee Ze Yang (#11), Lee Chih Jung John (#12), Titus Lowe Yong Wei (#13), Choi Young Jae (#14), Tan Wei Siang Gerald (#15), Mahesh Devan Shiki Vaahan (#16), Brandon Thio Zhi Kai (#17), Sirjan Singh Bajaj (#18), Josiah Goh Rui Zhe (#19), Tang Jin Eun Zachery (#20)
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