My first (and possibly last) ICG...

We had the soccer ICG yesterday. It was one hell of a tournament. Check out what I wrote for the match report. It basically sums up what I'm gonna write here...

Team 3D Bows Out In Style

For a moment, the crowd looked like it might fall flat but as the first game progressed, the atmosphere did enough to lift Team 3D’s spirits on a historic day at the NIE/PESS Astroturf. In spite of missing two regular team players through injuries, Sheikh (heel) and Alvin Tok (ankle), Team 3D had an outstanding outing in the inaugural PESS Soccer ICG Tournament. Flanked by arguably one of the best physiotherapist in the world, Tan Seok Kuan and team trainers, Tay Yea Bih and Zhang Rongzhen, Team 3D was well prepared for the encounter.

Team 3D approached the first game with caution. Playing in an attacking trio comprising of Wong Yong Jie (Kit), Isabelle Tan Chee She and Captain Jonathan Tan, Team 3D struggled to break through the opponent’s backline in the first couple of minutes. Team 3D shifted into second gear in the third minute and venture forward in an all out attack formation leaving the opponent’s striker unmarked. The move almost produced a goal with a sweet long pass from midfielder Yeo Swee Yeow into the path of the captain. Isabelle, the pocket dynamo, made a world class tackle on arguably the biggest man on the pitch in the fifth minute and the crowd went wild. A spectator was overheard saying, “She makes the man look like a clown”. Team 3D was on the back foot for the next couple of minutes when the opponent’s star player was introduced. Nothing though could beat the rock solid defender Teo Peng Kee as he stood tall between the posts. In the end, both teams deserved the 0 – 0 draw.

In the second game, Team 3D responded with a superlative showing by fielding a team that played a more direct approach against the favorites. The defense was marshaled by Tan Sher Chong who performed admirably with his timing tackles that saw him tumbling across the pitch at least twice. Providing excellent support with his overlapping runs and covering the defensive holes was the tough-tackling Ong Yong Hui. In the sixth minute, Team 3D orchestrated a well worked plan that released the evergreen Teo Soon Ann down the left channel but the defiant opponent’s defender managed to clear out the danger. The following minute saw the Republic of Singapore’s women player Isabelle Tan doing all the damage, turning the opponent’s defender inside out before delivering a low cross that was well intercepted. Captain Tan was clearly determined to get on the score sheet as he attempted a rasping 20 yards drive before being replaced by Kit with two minutes to go. Kit came up with a brilliant piece of individual skill, cheekily taking on the defenders before attempting a low cross shot which just whizzed across the goal mouth, summing up Team 3D’s frustration. “The opponents had nothing on us. We dominated the game but just couldn’t find the net. One goal is all it takes to determine the winner and the loser in games like this. We could have won,” said manager Yon See Kian, “but the opponents toughened it out and resisted as much as they could.”

In the final game of the night, Tham Jing Quan enhanced her growing reputation when she made an excellent run down the right wing. She dazzled the opponent with her quick thinking in the very first minute as she attempts a one-two with Kit. The next couple of minutes saw Team 3D pounding on the opponent’s door as waves after waves of attack came crashing on the opponents without producing results. The following minute produced the “move of the game”. From a kick in, man-of-the-match Swee Yeow floated a fantastic ball into the danger area which was met by an excellent header from the mobile Soon Ann. The crowd went wild as Team 3D took a well deserved lead. The opponent had their defender to thank, for keeping the score line decent as Team 3D searched for their second goal. Kit came close to doubling the tally with a one on one situation in the eighth minute as he was released but the defender stood tall and denied Team 3D. Another accurate passing from the rock, Peng Kee, produced another superb move involving Captain Jonathan who came in for Soon Ann and pocket rocket Isabelle, who came in for Jing Quan. Unfortunately, time ran out on Team 3D as they held on to their 1 – 0 win. “The better team won. We should have added to our goal tally but I’m very pleased with the team’s performance. I guess we were just unlucky,” echoed head coach Tay Chew Woo as the teams walked into the dressing room.


Yup, that's practically it. Time for dinner.

Cherios,
RuDy