Story and Photos by Stefanus Ian/Red Sports
Zachery Tang (ACJC #20) pounced on a loose ball to chip home the winner with virtually the last kick of the game. (Photo 1 © Stefanus Ian/Red Sports)
Nanyang Junior College, Friday, May 5, 2017 — Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) have a semi-final date with Victoria Junior College after their 1-0 victory over Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) placed them top of their Round 2 group in the National A Division Football Championship.
With both teams in the semi-finals already, ACJC and NYJC played out a guarded match sitting deep and launching counter attacks. Just when the match looked headed for a 0-0 draw, Zachery Tang (ACJC #20) pounced on a loose ball to chip home the winner with virtually the last kick of the game.
ACJC’s coach Ong Jin Yi was delighted with the performance of his team, saying that the mental belief of his boys was really strong.
“We actually have been challenged with suspensions and injuries,” said the 38-year-old coach.
Ong added that his team had to cope with the loss of one of their key players, forward Ayyadarshan Kasivishvanaath (ACJC #14), who was watching the match on the sidelines with a cast on his foot.
“For them to progress so far, really showed a lot of their character and their growth. I am really proud of my guys,” added Ong.
NYJC also fielded a weakened team, choosing not to play their centre midfielder Lee Banbury (NYJC #12) and Muhammad Raihan Bin Abdul Sukor (NYJC #18) who were both on a yellow card each.
It was no surprise, then, that the match started off cautiously. While ACJC had more of the ball, NYJC looked more threatening in attack. Jo Kagitani (NYJC #17), in particular, was a livewire in the middle of the park with his trickery and quick change of pace.
In the 18th minute, after some nifty footwork, Jo got his team’s first shot on target. Receiving the ball just outside the box, he sidestepped his marker before cutting back in to drive a low shot. But ACJC’s custodian John Ng Kai (ACJC #1) did well to dive and parry it away for a corner.
Towards the end of the first half, ACJC began to get careless in possession, giving the ball away too easily but NYJC also could not find a breakthrough against a disciplined ACJC defence. After the halftime break, it was NYJC again who threatened.
Following some slick passing and team play, Julian Tan (NYJC #11) had a shot towards the left top corner of the goal but John was again able to react quickly to palm the shot away. Then, it was ACJC’s turn to threaten at the other end.
In the 49th minute, Timothy David Yeo (ACJC #15) sent a beautiful cut back from the left flank to Joel Khoo (ACJC #3) who forced a save from NYJC’s Hernandes Lim (NYJC #15). The loose ball then fell kindly for Enoch Ng (ACJC #6) in the box but before he could do anything, NYJC’s captain Ahmad Mirza (NYJC #2) managed to hoof the ball away out for a corner.
As the match wore on, fatigue and cramps were setting in as the possibility of a draw became more likely, until a mistake by the NYJC defence right at the death. Ahmad played a weak back pass towards Hernandes and substitute Zachery Tang (ACJC #20), who was lurking, raced towards the loose ball and managed to chip the onrushing Hernandes to the delight of the visiting team.
The goal was virtually the last kick of the game as the final whistle blew right after the restart and NYJC’s teacher-in-charge Geoffrey Swee said his boys were clearly disappointed with how they conceded the goal.
“I think both teams were quite cautious … but we still wanted to go for a win, the boys still wanted to go for a win,” said the 33-year-old teacher.
But he said it is better for the team that they learn this lesson now rather than later.
“To let in a last-minute goal, of course, is always disappointing for any team,” he added.
“But I hope this disappointment would give them the energy and use that disappointment and energy to transfer it into the next game.”
NYJC will meet Meridian Junior College next in the other semi-final on Friday, May 12 at Innova Junior College.
Score
ACJC vs NYJC
Halftime: 0-0
Fulltime: 1-0
Scorers
ACJC
Tang Jin Eun Zachery (ACJC #20) — 1 goal
ACJC Roster
John Ng Kai (#1), Andre Shum Kai Heng (#2), Joel Khoo Yihao (#3), Justinian Matthew MacPherson (#5), Ng Enoch (#6), Kok Safacan (#7), Oon Jin Kuan (#7), Ryan Chew (#8), Chia Chong Jin (#10), Tay Teck Hong (#11), Cheong Ching Yong, Timothy (#12), Yao Zhikai (#13) Ayyadarshan Kasivishvanaath (#14), Timothy David Yeo (#15), Taufik Hidayat bin Mohamed Ariffin (#16), Keefe Soon Ming Hui (#17), Tang Jin Eun Zachery (#20), Lam Zeng Yang, Mark (#21), Titus Lowe Yong Wei (#23), Woo Zhongyi, Dean Dedric (#24)
NYJC Roster
Yow Keng Yee, Samuel (#1), Ahmad Mirza B Fazili (#2), Christian Hugh Rodrigues (#3), Muhammad Danish B Sallehudin (#4), Muhammad Haidi B Azaman (#5), Seth Lee Xuan Kai (#6), Loon Qing Xiang (#7), Kaloyan, Petrov Caluodov (#8), Lim Jun Long Ferdinand (#10), Tan Jian Tang Julian (#11), Banbury Lee (#12), Jordan Chua Jian Cheng (#13), Chew Zhi Hong, Jonathan (#14), Lim Jun Ning Hernandes (#15), Vincent Chua Yao Sen (#16), Kagitani Jo (#17), Muhammad Raihan B Abdul Sukor (#18), Ashvinath (#19), Haziq Shah B Husin Shah (#24)
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