After months of hardwork and determination, proving their doubters wrong and surpassing pre-season targets, it all came down to this 1 match – the quarter-finals of the FAP Div. 3 League. It was suppose to be a match that came too soon in the fixtures as both teams, favorites, after impressive performances in their group games squared off for a berth in the semis on a hazy evening.
But TAMilan's adventure came to a halt this year as they were ousted 3-1 by Rek. Kg. Makam. The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow and it came not from a lack of spirit, nor was it from playing badly, or because their opponents were better. No! It came as a result of bias refeering that was akin to broad daylight robbery! Rek. Kg. Makam was handed the win from a generous referee who thought it was right to rob a team of first-timers their moment of glory as TAMilan were barely 45 minutes away from making an appearance at the City Stadium.
For the whole game, but the first 10 opening minutes, TAMilan outfought, outhought, outrun, and outplayed their more fancied opponents. Playing the ball smartly, spraying passess across the field and defending intelligently. Kg. Makam for their part resorted to playing the bully-boys with the referee seemingly closing more than just one eye on some very questionable tackles from the team in lime green. However, TAMilan were not to be intimidated and they had 2 good chances early in the first half to bury the ball but Brown and Ming somehow missed glorious sitters, with the former shooting into the side netting, the keeper lying on the floor defeated and the goalmouth gapping. Darlington's freekick from nearly 30 yards caught their custodian unawares and skimmed the top right hand corner only for it to bounce to Brown, who chested the ball and promptly fired it into the side.
Then, Jason scored from a glancing header from Ming's pintpoint corner kick midway through the first half to hand them the lead. But a shot from outside the box early in the second half found its way into the back of the net after Chris failed to see the ball whizzing pass a sea of bodies in front of him. Rek. Kg. Makam then added their second when Darlington was deemed to have fouled the onrushing Kg. Makam player on the edge of the box although it was clearly a 50-50 ball. The player collapsed in a heap, screaming in pain, and that obviously convinced the referee to award a freekick much to the dismay and surprise of Darlington. The resulting freekick was dispatched to Chris' left and the Kg. Makam players erupted in joy as they were now 2-1 up. And in the dying minutes of regulation time, a counter-attack from a corner had Adrian and Suresh facing 2 sprinting Kg. Makam players bearing down on goal. The Kg. Makam winger strided into the box before releasing a pass to his striker to tap home but the linesman had raised his flag for offside. The referee then blew for a goalkick but then rescinded his decision after heavy protests from the Kg. Makam players! It sparked scenes of disbelief and disappointment from the TAMilan bench that the referee was so easily swayed in his decision. More incredibly was when just prior to that “goal” there were 9 more minutes of regulation time left to play after checking with the ref as the corner was being taken, but he blew for full-time after TAMilan kicked-off to restart the game.
Nevertheless, it was a performance worthy of praise and it took the combined efforts of everyone, from the management staff, to the coaches, to all the players, and not to mention the supporters as well, for getting them this far on their debut season. If anything good did transpired from this game, then it must surely be that TAMilan is without equals on a level playing field.
TAMilan... YOU GUYS ROCKED!
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3 comments:
Wasn't sure if it was the right time to comment especially during this black period of "mourning" but then is there a "right time" for something less than pleasant to be said and as the saying goes "better say it now or forever keep silent".
In the game against Kg. Makam (KM), it would appear that TAMilan (TAM) out thought, out played and maybe even dominated the match for a sizeable amount of time. However, for all this superiority, the KM defence stood firm and held a very strong line which limited most TAM's raids except for a few which generally fizzled out at the end. Granted that the referee for this match was biased but very few of his decisions actually 'robbed' TAM of its goals. The goals were 'lost' due to failure to seize the opportunity when it presented itself. In division football, you will always pay a high price for missing out on opportunities. I know that it is easier said than done (and that is why I can never be more than a social games striker) but a divisional striker has no excuse missing the target by whatever inches or cms. I did not stay to watch the third goal, but I saw the first two goals and the reason for TAM's defeat. The first goal went in about 1 minute after I predicted it would go in. TAM always had a weakness defending against corners and several goals have been conceded from corner kicks. However, when TAM does clear a corner attempt, its players (with still a control mentality) seldom clear the ball far away into safety and the furthest any clearance is usually midfield. Then, TAM players would be temporarily dazed or confused needing a few moments to compose themselves. This is precisely what led to the first KM goal. KM took a corner kick, it was unconvincingly cleared just outside the goal area, and while a KM player started a move to strike the ball, TAM players just stood in front dazed (not realising they were even blocking the keeper's view) without any one even rushing for a frontal block at the oncoming striker. Yes, many argue that one cannot reach full blocking positions on time but the idea of a rapidly rushing defender creates a psychological perspective in the mind of a striker which may reduce his accuracy, concentration, angle for scoring, etc. I have done this myself with great results. A small comment on the goalkeeping is that, when a ball is driven at great speeds and force, the laws of physics dictates that the best approach is to palm or flick it over the bar allowing it to continue its forward trajectory but intervening with an upward thrust/push. You often see the best keepers in the world doing this. The first goal went in when the keeper attempted to push the ball forward against its current trajectory and this has difficulty working because it was a powerful volley.
Some say that the second goal was a gift from the referee in awarding the free kick. I would definately agree that the free kick was an unfair decision but just because the referee gave a gift to the opponent doesn't mean that they could unwrap it so easily. Free kicks do happen (gifted or not) but TAM's defense of the free kick is extremely poor. Firstly, the wall was composed of some players with their backs facing the kicker (I suppose to preserve their future productive capacities), however, while this is tolerated in a social friendly, it is completely inappropriate in a division match. After all, footballing laws allow hands to be placed in positions protecting the vital region and it is not considered a handball if the hands are struck in that position. It was an indirect free kick but no one from the wall rushed at the two strikers after the first touch and the wall broke up quite easily. Usually, the players on the sides of the wall should rush forward while those in the centre should stay put until the ball strikes or clears the wall. The second goal entered at the waist level of the keeper which meant the wall failed its primary objective which is to block low level shots. The opponent did not have many free kicks but the one they had counted. So if a team does not have a comprehensive plan to deal with free kicks, it will generally pay the price.
I found that on several occasions, TAM players were found in clusters and were not so well spread out like the KM team. As a result, TAM players had very often to rush to areas where they had totally no presence, while KM had someone nearly everywhere and this discipline and positioning skill is a vital ingredient of success.
Having said all the "not so nice" things, it now time to say some nice words. Generally, while I am disappointed that TAMilan fell short of promotion to Div. 2, I have to say that it did surpass my initial expectation. For a team to make its debut at Div. 3 to qualify all the way to the knock out stages is indeed an achievement and my congratulations to the team, its manager and coach for a job well done. Heed my humble advice, and you will indeed get promoted next year, I'm sure of it. Always respect your opponents and you will then not underestimate their capabilities.
Should we have a meeting??? I think every player must have some word to say.No matter good or bad,some suggestion will benefit our team.
Looking for it...
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