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.