Season's Finale

Sell-Si FC’s Champion!!!

4 teams went in to the final match with hopes and chances of winning this season, some more equal than others.

The crowd favourites, MCU, failed to capitalize on their lead when they only managed to get only 3 points from 2 matches.

Meanwhile, the second and third place teams, Shiock and FP, self-destructed when they posted their worst match day performance on the most crucial time. Both teams lost all their matches on the last day.

In the end, it was left to the dark horse of the season, SS, who did not hesitate to take the chances that were presented to them on a gold platter. They defeated their close rival FP in their first do-or-die match of the day 3-1. Playing the final game of the season, SS knew that they had to win by a margin of 4 clear goals against the strong Shiockers to win the league.

In the nail-biting finale, SS fought like lions while the Shiock team was reduced to stunned spectators as SS steamrolled them 6-1; much to MCU disappointment.

This result meant that SS has captured the league title with 19 points, edging MCU who also has 19 points by goal difference of 1 goal.

The highlights of the matches are as follows :-

Match 25 : MCU vs Shiock (2-1)
MCU sounded their intent from the kick-off whistle when Sam unleashed a shot that was parried away by the keeper. Shiock responded immediately with Oon but his shot was blocked too. MCU edged ahead when super-keeper Samshen hit one of his trademark long ball into the opposing penalty box, which Daniel gleefully glanced into goal. Daniel struck again to give MCU a spirit lifting 2 goal lead. Shiock threw their whole arsenal at MCU but the defense led by Victor held firm. Shiock pulled a goal back when an innocuous looking shot slipped thru Samshen’s fingers. That goal encouraged Shiock to attack harder but MCU held on for an important win.

Match 26 : SA vs RM (2-3)
In this 5-6 placing match, David scored first for RM when he pounced on a rebound to shoot past the sprawled keeper. Suresh added another for RM before Lionel pulled one back to SA. SA equalized against the run of play when Ryan blasted a freekick thru RM’s porous wall. However, their joy was short lived as David put RM ahead again when he stole in unmarked and the score remained till end. With this win, RM clinched the 5th placing while SA had to contend with 6th placing.

Match 27 : SS vs FP (3-1)
It’s a do-or-die for both as neither can afford to drop any points if they want to win the league. Andy gave FP an encouraging start when he drilled in a low shot past the hapless keeper. FP continued to play a compact game and SS were forced to shoot from far as they can’t seemed to get past the defence. Lady luck smiled on SS when Shawn’s kick deflected off Andy’s shoulder and flew past the stranded keeper for the equalizing goal. That goal seemed to deflate FP and as SS continued to chip away at FP’s great wall, at last FP cracked not once but twice as Jeshua scored two more goals from either flank to give SS a deserving win. With this loss, FP’s chance at the title is shot while SS has strengthened their case for the league.

Match 28 : MCU vs RM (1-3)
At the current standing, MCU just needed a point from this match to win the league. It was not meant to be though as RM were in a merciless mood after their trouncing last week. Samuel Chin scored a rare goal for MCU to give them an early but deceptive lead as RM hit back with 2 goals from David. The first was a glancing header and the second came when Samshen let a harmless shot slipped thru his fingers for the second time today. Rattled MCU tried to hold on but RM was not letting up on the attacks and got the match’s last goal when Suresh hit a pile-driver. With this loss, MCU’s chance of winning the title will have to depend on the outcome of the final game between SS and Shiock.

Match 29 : SA vs FP (3-4)
With their chance gone, the best that FP can hope for is a second placing. With their 6th placing confirmed, SA is playing for nothing but pride. SA shocked FP with 2 early goals before FP fought back to equalize. Both sides scored again to tie at 3-3 before Ryan capitalized on a defensive mistake to blast the ball past the hapless keeper. FP dug in deep to find another equalizer but without their ace striker around, their dominance did not translate to goal. While SA notched only their second win of the season, today’s double defeat for FP meant they ends their campaign on 4th placing.

Match 30 : SS vs Shiock (6-1)
In this final match of the season, Shiock got to be the kingmaker as the outcome of this will decide whether SS or MCU will get the title. SS needs to beat Shiock by 4 clear goals in order to win. With Shiock’s reputation as a team which is very strong defensively, most have expected SS to have an almost impossible task. However, impossible is nothing to SS in this match. Although they trailed to an early Shiock’s goal, SS played like rabid dogs high on ice as they keep barking and biting at Shiock. They got their equalizer when Samuel capitalized on a rebound to shoot home. Energized, they came again and Shawn scored from a corner. Shiock’s defence suddenly seemed as watertight as a piece of paper and SS keep going from strength to strength and added 3 more goals from Shawn (2) and Samuel. At the current scoreline, SS know they’ve done enough but if Shiock retaliated with any more goals, they’ll be out. With that knowledge, SS didn’t let up and got a deserving final goal thru Jeshua. As they walked off the court in jubilation, Shiock were left wondering what had hit them and MCU stunned at the match outcome.

Congratulations to all the teams for a fantastic season of thrills, spills, drama kings and queens, controversies and ecstasies.

Final Round

While all teams went into the previous round with hopes of winning the league, not all came out with their hopes intact.

After the last round’s results, RM and SA have crashed and burned while the other 4 teams of MCU, Shiock, FP and SS still have a genuine shot at the title, some more equal than others.

The fights are on as follows :-

1st match : MCU vs Shiock
Whoever wins this match will be the super-hot favourites for the title.

2nd match : SA vs RM
The wooden spoon match. Crucial for SA to win if they don’t want to be last.

3rd match : SS vs FP
A must win for either teams. A draw or defeat will disqualify them from the title challenge.

4th match : MCU vs RM
Depending on the results of Match 1 and Match 3, MCU may or may not need the points from this match as the title could have been theirs by now.

5th match : SA vs FP
Iregardless of the other matches results, FP will want maximum points to finish as high as possible.

6th match : SS vs Shiock
Depending on the results of all the other matches, this could either be the grand finale or dead rubber.

Good luck to all.

Week 4 Round-Up : 18 May 2008

Match 19 : Funny-Pasir vs Shiock 04 (2-0)
In their previous encounter, both teams settled for 2-2 draw. In this rematch, FP repeated their scoring feat while Shiock drew a blank. FP edged ahead when Edwin fouled Lawrence on the edge of the box. Lawrence blasted a ferocious shot into goal and the FP players ran back to their half rejoicing. However, their joy was short-lived when the referee claimed that the kick was taken before he blew the whistle. Visibly frustrated, Lawrence retook the kick. This time, the ball bounced off the wall to Andy, who blasted into goal. Justice served. Shiock fought back gamely but found the going very hard against the stingiest defence (7 goals conceded only) in the league this season. Oon hardly received the ball as his chief supplier, Henry, was totally marked out; and when the former did receive the ball, Andy was on to him in a flash. FP’s new 3.8million signing, Andrew, snatched FP’s second goal when the ball bundled underneath the keeper’s body.

Match 20 : Sell-si FC vs Real Madreed (5-0)
Revenge is best served cold. Earlier in the season, RM thumped SS 5-0; but in this return leg, it was SS turn to thump a weakened RM team with the same scoreline. RM went to the court without their star player, Suresh, and their weakness was laid bare from the kick-off whistle. Though RM get the kick-off, their player give the ball away cheaply and immediately to Jeshua, who let rip a shot. Fortunately, Sirnloong was sharp enough to turn the shot away. SS first came from a Shawn’s corner, which Jeshua turned in unmarked into goal. Jeshua scored another when RM’s player was slow to respond to their keeper’s throw. Jeshua sneaked ahead, stole the ball and slot passed the helpless keeper. SS was then having a party as RM can’t seem to string decent passes together, not even if their lives were depending on it. It was simply an off day for RM as SS kept popping shots at poor Sirnloong. Shawn added another before Melvin and Samuel scored from corners. The tally would have been higher if not for some frantic but brave saves from Sirnloong, who literally dived at the on-rushing players feet for the ball.

Match 21 : Severe-ah? vs Shiock 04 (2-3)
SA’s revival grounded to a halt as they failed again to overcome Shiock; they lost the first game 2-4. Kokwai scrambled the ball into goal thru a sea of legs for Shiock’s first goal. SA attacked in numbers but their lack of finishing was glaring as many chances went a-begging. SA was handed a lifeline went Kokwai fouled Fly-Boy aka Weeliam (as he always seemed to be flying, either voluntarily or involuntarily when kena langgar) in the box. Lil’Kev converted the kick to equalize. SA edged ahead when Lionel cheekily back-heeled a cross from Fly-Boy into goal, with the keeper well stranded. SA lead did not last long as Shiock’s 4.7 million investment in Oon began to reap its reward. Oon came alive in the final moments of the match to score 2 goals to give Shiock a crucial victory and keep their title challenge alive.

Match 22 : MCU vs Sell-si FC (5-3)
It was MCU’s turn to avenge their defeat to SS in the first match of the season. Things started brightly for SS though when they took an early 2 goal lead, one of them courtesy of an own goal from Alwin while the other was from Jeshua. MCU crawled back with an extraordinary strike from Samshen. Taking the cue from his keeper, Victor also unleased a shot from his own half that rolled past the blindsided SS keeper to draw level. The excitement and intensity level went up a few notches higher from here on. Jeshua put SS ahead only for Daniel to equalize via a disputed goal. SS furiously claimed that their keeper was impeded prior to the goal but the referee thought otherwise. Alwin then turned from zero to hero with two skillfully executed goals to earn MCU a hard fought victory.

Match 23 : Real Madreed vs Funny-Pasir (0-3)
Prior to the match, FP’s manager was overheard telling his players to focus and not to get over confident against the depleted RM side. As expected, FP surged ahead with a 2 goals strike from Lawrence. Andy kept urging his team-mates to focus because at 2-0, it’s still a close game. RM was struggling to keep possession of the ball and was akin to having a Jusco sale on the field..….they are giving the ball away at steep discount and cheaply. FP, on their part, was having an easy time passing the ball around and taking pot-shots at RM’s goal. It was their players’ lack of accuracy that actually kept the score down. Edrian finally added a third goal for FP before the referee called time out.

Match 24 : Severe-ah? vs MCU (1-6)
MCU repeated their victory over SA but with a more emphatic score. Their earlier goliath effort against Shiock seemed to have zap SA of their energy as they seemed listless and lethargic. MCU edged ahead when Daniel score his customary goal. Ryan scored a freakish own goal when his backpass was too strong for Lil’kev to stop and the ball rolled in past the line. The Dubious Goal Committee is still undecided on whether to reward the goal to Ryan or Lil’kev. Victor scored another for MCU before Jongchiueh pulled one back for SA. SA’s comeback was shortlived as Jianyi scored 2 while Daniel added another in between Jianyi’s goal. With this win, MCU is firmly perched at the summit of the league and is the red-hot favourites to win the league.

TRANSFER WEEK

The COMICS held their transfer meeting on the evening 4 May 2008.

The followings are the players transferred as agreed by the managers :

Name : Andrew

Position : Utility player

Goals : 1

Transfer from/to : SA to FP

Transfer amount : RM3.8 million

Name : JianYi
Position : Striker/Midfielder
Goals : 5
Transfer from/to : Shiock04 to MCU
Transfer amount : RM5.5 million

Name : Lionel
Position : Striker/Midfielder
Goals : 2
Transfer from/to : SS to SA
Transfer amount : RM4.0 million

Name : David
Position : Striker
Goals : 4
Transfer from/to : MCU to RM
Transfer amount : RM4.8 million

_

Name : Melvin
Position : Midfielder
Goals : 2
Transfer from/to : FP to SS
Transfer amount : RM4.2 million

Name : Oon
Position : Striker
Goals : 4
Transfer from/to : RM to Shiock04

Transfer amount : RM4.7 million

Week 3 Round-up : 4 May 2008

Match 13 : Real Madreed vs Shiock 04 (1-2)
RM played the game with 4 players only, with Mervyn standing in goal. However, RM showed that they’re not cowed when Suresh fired them ahead, taking advantage of a stray pass from Shiockers’ defense. However, RM’s jubilation did not last long as the Shiockers began to make the effect of their additional player felt. Henry equalized for Shiockers when he toe-poked from close range. Pilling on the pressure, Shiockers got their winning goal when Jianyi drilled in Henry’s blocked shot.

Match 14 : MCU vs Funny Pasir (2-5)
MCU’s impressive run was brought to a shuddering stop when FP trounced them in this match. FP started the match strongly but it was MCU who got the break when David scored first. MCU’s second goal was hotly disputed by FP as they claimed it came from a goal kick. However, the ref ruled the goal valid as the ball touched Daniel’s hair, hence it came off an outfield player. Shell-shocked, FP got the breakthrough they wanted when Lawrence beat the keeper to the ball and scored. Melvin’s equalizer for FP was the turning point as FP turned the table on MCU and ran riot with Lawrence completing his first hattrick of the season and Andy adding to his tally.

Match 15 : Severe-ah? vs Sell-si FC (3-1)
SA at last came alive in this season by beating SS soundly in this pulsating match. Things didn’t looked too bright for SA in the beginning as SS took an early lead through Shawn. SA was awarded a penalty when Weeliam was tripped in the D. Lil’kev stepped up and blast a scorcher right at center, too fast for the keeper to react. JC added a second for SA when he dribbled past 2 defenders and beat the keeper one-on-one. SS staged a fight back but it was SA who scored again, this time a long range from Verat.

Match 16 : Real Madreed vs MCU (1-2)
Bruised from the earlier loss, MCU redeemed themselves when they outplayed RM 2-1. David, the baby-faced assassin, struck for MCU again when he scored from the edge of the box. MCU increased their lead when Victor drilled a shot that ghosted past the players and the keeper. RM pushed up and would have scored if not for the heroics of MCU’s keeper, Samshen. However, Samshen was helpless when Leonard deflected in a shot from Suresh into goal. MCU managed to hold on to the end despite frenzied attacks from Suresh and co.

Match 17 : Funny-Pasir vs Severe-ah? (1-1)
The bottom two teams battled it out in this high-voltage draw. A win for SA would draw them level with FP; while a win for FP will lift them into the upper half of the table. Without fail this season, FP found themselves trailing early in the game again when Weeliam scored from close range. Sorely missing their prized striker aka hattrick hero, Lawrence, FP just can’t seemed to find the back of the net. FP’s equalizer came courtesy of a controversial moment in the game. Weeliam was felled in the penalty area and SA cried penalty. However, the ref waved played on and FP countered with Melvin surging ahead and drilling the ball past the stunned Lil’kev. Lil’kev protested furiously for the earlier foul but the ref waved him away. Right upon the re-start, the final whistle came and SA was left fuming for the 2 points lost, while FP continues to live up to their draw specialist tag.

Match 18 : Shiock 04 vs Sell-si FC (1-2)
Shiockers felled at last as SS became the first team to beat them in over 2 seasons and 12 games. Jianyi scored first for Shiockers but SS fought back thru goals from Shawn and Jeshua.


Notes :

A transfer session was held after the conclusion of Week 3 matches.

Stay tune for the list of transfers done.