Story by REDintern Sharhind Singh. Photos by Stefanus Ian/Red Sports.
Glenn Kweh (VJC #11) scored the only goal of the match in the opening minute of extra time, latching onto a brilliant through ball by Dashmesh Singh (VJC #7) before firing a low shot past the ACJC goalkeeper. (Photo 1 © Stefanus Ian/Red Sports)
Millennia Institute, Friday, May 12, 2017 — In a repeat of last year’s semi-finals, Victoria Junior College (VJC) needed extra-time to beat a dogged Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 1-0. VJC will now face Meridian Junior College in the final of the National A Division Football Championship.
The defeat was especially heartbreaking for ACJC who had lost to VJC 5-4 on penalties last year at the same stage.
Glenn Kweh (VJC #11) scored the only goal of the match in the opening minute of extra time, latching onto a brilliant through ball by Dashmesh Singh (VJC #7) before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Yao Zhikai (ACJC #13).
Speaking about the goal, Glenn said: “I felt like this was my only opportunity and I had to take it because the team worked really hard on the field just to bring the ball forward for me.”
VJC dominated the first half, creating the majority of the chances and limiting ACJC to occasional counter-attacks. The first chance of the match came just after three minutes when Michael Collins (VJC #2) crossed in from the right to Leong Yu Young (VJC #8) who could only head straight to the ACJC goalkeeper.
VJC were relentlessly attacking the ACJC goal and they almost took the lead in the 25th minute. A long free kick into the ACJC penalty box was cleared, but only as far as Ashwin Kalaichelvan (VJC #19) who saw his first-time volley crash against the left side of the bar.
Immediately, ACJC picked up the loose ball and started a counter-attack on the right side which resulted in Keefe Soon’s (ACJC #17) hard shot saved by VJC goalkeeper Kevin Wong (#20).
ACJC began to push forward as the first half drew to a close but VJC came close to scoring again in the 33rd minute when midfielder Dashmesh Singh (VJC #7) saw his corner kick hit the frame of the goal.
As the referee blew his whistle for halftime, the VJC coaches held their heads in disbelief at how their team were not ahead.
The second half served a very closed game of football, with ACJC coming out disciplined and compact. Their defence expertly nullified VJC’s offensive threats that had earlier flourished in the first half. The only real chance in the second half came two minutes from time when Nicholas Teo (VJC #14) had a shot from the right cleared off the line.
With the scores tied 0-0, the game went into extra time.
Despite the mental and physical fatigue, VJC coach Lim Wei Quan said his boys were fired up going into extra time.
“When they came in after the regulation time and sat down, we (coaches) didn’t actually have to say too much because they were all fired up. They were saying ‘let’s go, this is ours, we are going to get this’,” said coach Lim.
True enough, VJC started extra time guns blazing and blitzed ACJC to take the lead just one minute into extra time. Dashmesh Singh collected the ball in the centre of the park, looked up and threaded a sumptuous through ball to Glenn Kweh who fired the ball past the oncoming ACJC goalkeeper Yao Zhikai (ACJC #13) into the net.
ACJC tried to get back in the game but they could not make any breakthroughs in the final third.
As the referee blew the final whistle, VJC players jumped in ecstasy after overcoming an ACJC side that had pushed them to their limits.
VJC coach Lim Wei Quan praised ACJC after the game, saying: “We played against a very strong opponent. They were organised, they fought hard, they played very direct and it wasn’t an easy game for us.”
Speaking ahead of the final, coach Lim gave his view on how VJC can avoid a repeat of last year’s defeat in the final against MJC: “We have to be at our best and we have to make sure we have the same mentality as today.”
“That will give us the best chance.”
Score
VJC vs ACJC
Halftime: 0-0
Fulltime: 0-0
After extra time: 1-0
Scorers
VJC
Glenn Kweh (#11) — 1 goal
VJC Roster
Kevin Wong (#20), Desmond Chia (#18), Malcom Tan (#5), Wayne Ng (#4), Glenn Kweh (#11), Shaythuram Elangkovan (#15), Dashmesh Singh Bajaj (#7), Norhaqim Azalee (#17), Marcus Kok (#3), Jonathan Tan (#13), Tan E-An (#12), Leong Yu Young (#8), Marcus Tang (#6), Jeremiah Lim (#1), Michael Collins (#2), Nicholas Teo (#14), Nicholas Chan (#16), Ye Yint Paing Oo (#9), Ashwin Kalaichelvan (#19), Muhammad Syakir (#10)
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 (#8), Ryan Chew (#9), 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)
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