Story by REDintern Desiray Tay

Meridian Junior College, Wednesday, May 6, 2009 – With Meridian enjoying home ground advantage, the game started out looking like both teams were headed for a goalless draw. But all it took was a penalty given away due to a handball infringement for the Victorians to get their engines going, as they eventually scored five goals without reply to end Meridian’s dream of keeping a clean sheet all the way to the semi-finals in the girls’ A Division Football Championship.

Spectators looking for an exciting attacking game from both sides were disappointed when MJC started the game employing a defensive 5-4-1 formation. While this system worked well to hold Victoria to 0-0 in the first half, the absence of players upfront meant that MJC could hardly advance and this left VJC with possession in the MJC half most of the time.

Even as MJC tried to counterattack, VJC’s key player, #14 Chia Jie Min, intercepted all the plays that went through the centre. The VJC players also attacked down the wings, leaving the MJC wingers tracking back in defence rather frequently. As such, the lone striker up front barely had the ball and did not give the Victorian keeper any problems.

While it was VJC all the way, precise defending by MJC’s last man #26, Bee Hoon and good saves by keeper Khai kept denying the Victorians. However, it was a corner that undid it all. A handball led the referee to award a spot kick and Jie Min stepped up to take the penalty. It was a well-placed ball to the left, which the keeper guessed correctly, but the ball was too fast for her to save. 1-0 to VJC.

Before long, it was upped to 2-0 as VJC’s #6 Rachel Wong lightly tapped in a ball from her teammate from yet another corner. MJC were further penalised for a second handball, with keeper Khai guessing the direction of VJC’s #4 Bethany Koh spot kick correctly, but failing to hold on to the ball as it flew into the goal under her arms to put the score at 3-0.

Corner kicks continued to be the achilles’ heel of MJC as VJC showcased their ability to convert set pieces. The ball sailed high above the heads of everyone from the corner and landed nicely for a VJC’s #13 Sukhanya, to head it to the back of the net to bring the score to 4-0.

As the game went on, VJC’s stellar fitness shone as they continued to attack the MJC goal relentlessly. With the girls from MJC unable to keep up, the girls from VJC were now free to play their game. The score was nearly made 5-0 when a switch of play found the VJC striker in front of goal with no one except the keeper to deny her. However, the ball curved outwards and away from the post.

The fifth goal came rather unexpectedly, as the VJC striker, #18 Zhang Qian, crossed a ball in from the side, when her actual intention was to score. Her ball hit the far post and deflected into goal, to the shock of the MJC keeper and defenders alike.

Despite the scoreline, the MJC players never gave up, especially their last man #26 Bee Hoon, whose determination spoke as she bravely shielded her goal, blocking painfully strong shots from the VJC strikers. No goals were further conceded, thanks to her, and the final whistle blew for a 5-0 VJC victory.

Following the outcome of this game, VJC and MJC finish first and second in their group respectively, which is reminiscent of previous years’ competitions. However, the question that remains to be answered is whether the winner will be the same.

Exciting? You bet.