Story by REDintern Ryan Lim. Photos by Jerald Ang/Red Sports
Ivan Raj Selvam (#14) of YJC attempts to score with a header. (Photo 1 © Jerald Ang/Red Sports)
Yishun Junior College, Friday, April 1, 2016 — Yishun Junior College (YJC) emerged 2-1 victors in the Round 1 matchup against Anglo-Chinese School (International). YJC had to reclaim their lead after comeback efforts from their opponents in the National A Division Football Championship.
After losing all three of their opening games, ACS(Int) entered this game looking to reverse their fortunes. In contrast, YJC have only played one game this season, a 2-0 win against National Junior College.
ACS(Int)’s slow start to the season was replicated in their slow start to the match, with YJC scoring the game’s opening goal within the first 10 minutes. Striker Ivan Raj (YJC #14) displayed excellent dribbling skills, breaking away from his marker to slot the ball into the back of the net.
YJC built on their early advantage by launching further attacks on the ACS(Int) defence, leaving their opponents little time to recover. Midfielder Saroj Thapa (YJC #18) put his stamp on the game with an impressive box-to-box performance, making ample tackles and penetrating runs into the opposition’s half. One offensive play saw the diminutive player outmuscle his foes, and delivering a venomous strike that was deflected wide.
Midway through the first half, ACS(Int) began to find their feet. The team forced YJC back into their own half with physicality and great off the ball movement. YJC defended deep, keeping a tight defensive shape as ACS(Int) enjoyed a good spell in attack.
In their search for an equalizer, Kwun Jun Hyung (ACSInt #4) came close with a strong header following a corner kick. The effort at goal went narrowly wide as the YJC defence struggled to cope with the ACS(Int) onslaught.
The efforts of ACS(Int) finally paid off after a scramble in the YJC penalty box saw the ball carelessly given away to Kim Young Hown (ACSInt #9) for an easy tap in. This was ACS(Int)’s first goal in the competition and YJC’s first goal conceded.
The towering forward Kim Young Hown (ACSInt #9) almost doubled his goal count minutes later with a long distance shot that was comfortably saved by the YJC custodian. This rounded up the first half at a 1-1 stalemate.
The second half kicked off in a cagey manner, with much of the action occurring in the centre of the field. Both sides were evenly matched in gameplay and in eagerness to take the lead, as the next goal of the game threatened to be the deciding one.
YJC finally broke the deadlock after Saroj Thapa (YJC #18) slipped a through ball past the ACS(Int) backline and into the path of Teo Chao Fu (YJC #7). The finishing matched the quality of the pass, as a low drive into the bottom right corner gave YJC the lead once again.
With little more than 20 minutes left to play, an unfortunate incident saw Elliot Bok (YJC #15) dislocate his elbow. The YJC winger landed awkwardly after a challenge with an opponent. The game took a backseat as the ambulance was called to provide medical assistance to the injured player. Elliot (YJC #15) was stretchered off the field to applause from both teams and spectators in a display of sportsmanship.
The match resumed with less intensity, after the 30-minute pause left many of them with stiff legs. However, the game slowly picked up its pace, as ACS(Int) searched for their equalizer for the second time. Yash Vikram (ACSI #7) sped down the left wing and delivered an accurate cross to the edge of the box. The shot was found lacking as it drifted wide.
YJC’s discipline and stability at the back ensured that the lead was not squandered again, securing their second win in an encouraging start to the championship.
YJC’s captain, Muhammad Haziq Darwisy (YJC #6), commented after the game, “The game was very good. My team put in hundred percent and we really played our hearts out, I am really proud of them. The crowd today really pushed our spirits up, I am really thankful for them and hope to see them supporting us again in the future. We are going to push ourselves and aim for the second round.”
When quizzed on the injury his teammate suffered, he added, “Elliot is a really good player, and really made a difference when he came on. But unfortunately, his time on the field had to end early. The team’s going to visit him after the game and hope he has a speedy recovery.”
YJC face Victoria Junior College in their next game, while ACS(Int) will be pitted against National Junior College.
Score by Half
YJC vs ACS(Int)
1st Half: 1-1
2nd Half: 1-0
Full-time: 2-1
Scorers
YJC
Ivan Raj Selvam (#14) – 1 goal
Teo Chao Fu (#7) – 1 goal
ACS(Int)
Kim Young Hown (#9) – 1 goal
YJC Roster
Ee Cheng Xuan (#1), Simarbir Singh (#2), Maaliq Ezra Mansul (#3), Loh Kai Hao Marcus (#4), Luqman Nur Hakim B Rosmani (#5), Muhammad Haziq Darwisy B A L (#6), Teo Chao Fu (#7), Muhammad Noorfarhan B Mohd N (#8), Goh Soon Hao (#9), Lim Jun Wei, Zenneth (#10), Russell Fong Jie Long (#11), Justin Lim Chun Mun (#12), Muhammad Ammar Marican B M S (#13), Ivan Raj Selvam (#14), Bok Shi Yu Elliot James (#15), Loh Yi Jie (#16), Mohamed Bashir B Mohamed Feroz (#17), Saroj Thapa Magar (#18), Mohammad Nursyamiir B Othman (#19), Low Yu Long Joshua (#20)
ACS(Int) Roster
Chea Chan Heng (#1), Kwun Jun Hyung (#4), Agastya Mudgal (#6), Yash Vikram Dhar (#7), Rohan Arya (#8), Kim Young Hown (#9), Rushil Parvin Punjabi (#10), Wu Xiaoran (#11), Kim Sung Jun (#13), Hwang Soonha (#15), Jeremy Matthew Yu Houren (#23), Kyohei Hayano (#3), Daffa Ananggadipa Fajar (#5), Koh Wei Lun Gareth (#12), Rahul Kurup (#14), Dominic Daniel Kwan (#16), Lee Keat Wee (#17), Vishaalraj Singh Sidhu (#21), Lim Jin Jack Jonathan (#22), Ng Ze Weng (#25)
National A Division Football Championship – fixtures and results
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