Seng Kang sink Greenview 2-1 with last-gasp goal to finish third in National B Div football

Story by Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

CCAB, Friday, July 23, 2010 — Seng Kang Secondary rubbed off the disappointment of losing in the semi-finals to beat Greenview Secondary 2-1 in the National B Division third and fourth placing match.

The game looked to be headed for extra time with both teams locked at 1-1 before Seng Kang broke Greenview’s hearts with a 78th-minute goal that proved to be the winner.

The first half was a turgid one with both teams trying to get their passing movement together in vain with Greenview having not enough support in attack whle Seng Kang could not get into the opposing penalty box.

Seng Kang forward Mohd Amirul Aliff had the only real goalscoring opportunity of the half but he stabbed his effort wide of goal just inside the box.

The second half gradually came into life as Seng Kang scored first on 51 minutes. Forward Mohd Shameer Aziq went down the right flank before drilling in a low cross into the penalty area that Greenview goalie Adiman failed to collect. The ball fell to a lurking Mohd Amirul Aliff who had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty goal for a 1-0 Seng Kang lead.

Seng Kang could have doubled their lead three minutes later but winger Chen Peng headed just wide of goal after a Mohd Helmi B Ridzwan’s left-wing cross.

They were made to pay for that miss as Greenview scored against the run of play on 57 minutes. Forward Nizem’s 30m free kick hit the wall before winger Faozi returned with a volley that went straight into the bottom left corner of goal, giving Seng Kang goalie Joey Ho no chance at all.

Greenview had their chances to score their second and came closest on 71 minutes. A snapshot by winger Ardino just outside the box sent Joey Ho scrambling to tip the effort over the bar.

Seng Kang were the stronger side in the closing stages as they created several opportunities in front goal. Mohd Shameer Aziq and Mohd Syafiq both stung the palms of Greenview goalie Adiman before Syafiq curled another free kick wide of the left-hand post.

Their pressure finally paid off with barely two minutes left on the clock. Midfielder Mohd Nur Afiq’s 30m effort resulted in Adiman spilling the ball straight into the path of winger Ryan Lam who gleefully tapped home.

The goal broke all Greenview resistance as Seng Kang managed to hold out for the victory that gave that third place in the National B Division.

This win is a huge achievement for team as we only had 12 men in our squad,” said Ryan Lam, the scorer of the winning goal after the game. “This is the first time in Seng Kang’s history that we got into the semi-finals.”

“This was my first time participating in a school tournament,” elaborated Ryan. “I was transferred to Seng Kang from St Hilda’s where there was no football CCA. I didn’t get to start regularly initially because I did not contribute to the team. Our number 10, Hwang Kok Chang, did not turn up for the game thus I came in to take his position. Who would have though that I scored the winning goal? I cannot ask for a better ending to my school career.”

Meanwhile Seng Kang coach Mr Donald Wan reflected on his team’s relatively successful campaign.

“I would be lying if I say I’m not disappointed in playing in the second game (the final),” said Mr Wan. “But we have a young and small squad this year, so to come this far, I’m very proud of the boys.”

“Last year we were Zone champions but went out in the quarters, this year we were third in the Zone but finished in third position, so every year we achieved something different,” he said when asked to summarize his team’s campaign. “It’s been a long season but I’m very satisfied with the players’ performances.”

Final Result
Greenview 1
Faozi 57′

Seng Kang 2
Mohd Amirul Aliff B Nazarudin 51′
Ryan Lam Jin Yuan 78′

Greenview lineup
Adiman (#1, GK), Wyldan (#2, captain), Dinie (#3), Syazwan (#13), Irfan (#14), Emir (#16), Ardino (#4), Haiqul (#5), Syukri (#11), Hadi (#18), Faozi (#8), Nizem (#6), Hyder (#9), Naem (#10), Zaki (#15), Farid (#19)

Seng Kang lineup
Joey Ho Ji Keat (#1, GK), Rayyan B Mohd (#12), Mohd Nabil B Mohd Noor (#2), Mohd Syafiq B Iderus (#4, captain), Mohd Luqman B Mohd Kamaruzaman (#3), Ryan Lam Jin Yuan (#14), Mohd Nur Afiq B Ubin (#6), Mohd Helmi B Ridzwan (#7), Chen Peng (#8), Mohd Shameer Aziq B Abdul Razak (#9), Mohd Amirul Aliff B Nazarudin (#11),

Substitutes
Mohd Zulkarnain B Zulkifli (#5), Sheikh Azman Ally B Sheikh Azim Ally (#13), Mohd Bazlee B Mohd (#15), Ahmad Izzudin B Amatzaki (#16), Muhd Hanafi B Rosley (#17)

For more photos, go to the next page.