twentyfifths!: 2006

Reported by Yowie Chocolate

The RJC students' council pwnzed the SA council 2-0 yesterday in a hard fought match in which we finally discovered the ability to string more than 3 passes together. Attendance was spectacular, with one die-hard jason fan turning up for RJ with a few moderately chio SA girls making up the spectator numbers.

Within the 5th minute, RJC was got their noses in front thanks to a spectacular dipping free kick by ilman, who put his considerable bulk behind the shot to power it pass the helpless, flailing keeper. Who needs David Beckham? The RioFerdinand bazooka celebration was contemplated, but everyone was just running around like headless chickens in glee.

Soon after, Lizhan burst down the flank and cut into the penalty area having been set free by a long clearance, but could not finish off the chancce for the lack of support as everyone was still stuck back in the RJC half. Cries of "good job" were heard from the bench from our solitary female supporter. Or perhaps josie.

Both teams attempted to push forward in attack, resulting in pretty much a midfield scrap in the first half, though lizhan and guanghao both missed good chances to double the lead after getting themselves into good positions. In separate off-the-ball incidents, Lizhan had a nice chat with the SA central defender, and josie left the technical area to stand next to the girls.

At the other end, RJC had a scare as SA bundled the ball into net, but the goal was disallowed for an earlier infringement. Nazi giggled happily. The teams went into the break with the score at 1-0. Matthew, Just and Jason put in commanding performances in the middle of the park while the central defensive partnership of Ilman and Gautam held firm, refusing to let the SA strikers get a sniff of goal. Charles and Senthil as left backs effectively shackled the opposing wingers.

The second half began at a frenetic pace with the SA team going all out for an equilizer, and RJC on the back foot attempting to repel the repeated attacks. This, however, left them vulnerable to a counter attack as their defensive line was often caught too far forward. Yowie(me) was sent tumbling by a late challenge from a rather jolly SA left back. An earlier cut on the knee inflicted by guanghao in warmup was perceived to have been sustained then and the left back guiltily apologised a few times. hee. RJC, however, was unable to take advantage of this, and almost paid the price a few minutes later when a goalmouth scramble ended in the ball being hastily hacked away by Senthil for a throw in.

The referee was a popular little boy for the first few minutes of the half as everyone wanted to talk to him. He was almost subbed off after failing to control the game, but there was no one to sub and we decided he would improve after warming up.

With barely time to catch their breaths, RJC found themselves conceding a penalty to a dubious handball call soon after. The subsequent penalty, however, was poorly struck and cannoned off the chest of nazi who collected without bother. The RJC players ran back to their positions punching the air in celebration. Deja vu, anyone?

From then on, play was once again dictated by SA attacks and RJ counterattacks, trying to use the speed advantage of their wingers to catch the SA defence off guard. RJ almost got through again when Yowie (me) intercepted a defensive pass but he (me) was quickly closed down. RJ had another half chance when Senthil like an overfed tank went on a rampaging run down the left flank from his own goalline into the opposing penalty area before being dispossesed just as he was preparing to centre it to lizhan.

In the 75th minute, the scoreline read 2-0 thanks to a large slice of luck. Leehoo dispossessed an SA midfielder in his own half and began to charge towards goal before laying it off to an unmarked Yowie (me). Closing in on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, Yowie (me) swung at the ball but ended up slicing it terribly off target. The miskick, however, gave the ball a spin of F1-engine level rpms (revs-per-minute). Combined with a very wet pitch, this resulted in the ball cannoning off the standing leg of a helpless SA defender to loop over the line and nestle in the bottom corner with the goalkeeper stranded. Game, set and match. Matthe rather insensitively started laughing as he came for the high five.

The last 15 minutes went by uneventfully, and cheers of celebration rang out as the referee whispered the final whistle (the whistle was broken and made a pathetic, wheezing squeak).

The obligatory cheers were sung, and basking in the cheap thrill of an official-feeling match, both teams decided to form tunnels and shake hands with every player twice. It was all good fun. RJ would have dunked josie (football's first female manager!) to celebrate the win and thank him for his efforts in organising the match, but there was no pool, only toilet bowls.

A few players went to KFC to celebrate and eat a very belated lunch, where they called junki and kangya on speakerphone. Nobody heard what they said though, as everyone was hollering away. I think kangya made a few surprised noises. They players then went home satisfied with a deserved first-ever win in their council soccer playing careers, and lived happily ever after.

Teams: RJC: Nazi, Charles, Chinghui, Senthil, Ilman, Gautam, Matthew, Just, Shawn, Jason, Iwan, Yowie, Lizhan. and the first half referee (Iwan).

SAJC: 6 number 28s and 5 number 29s. and the second half referee(who was the j1 council prez).