Story by Carissa Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Jonathan Lim (NYJC #10) goes for a header. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)
Nanyang Junior College, Monday, April 6, 2015 — Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) dominated play for a 6–0 win over Temasek Junior College (TJC) in the preliminary round of the National A Division Football Championship.
Within the first 15 minutes, NYJC had their opening goal. Gareth Keigan Lee (#1) sent a cross into TJC’s penalty box and his teammate, Thong Giggs (#9), headed it in for an easy goal.
Subsequently, NYJC executed a high press, leaving only three to four players to defend and lob balls forward to their attackers. Their backline were able to pass freely along the midfield as TJC players failed to pressure them.
This allowed NYJC to dominate from the start. TJC players contested every ball later on, but NYJC were still able to navigate freely through the midfield by employing combination plays. Most of the play was in TJC’s half.
Nguyen Hoang Dong (NYJC #7) scored the second goal off a rebound from the crossbar. His teammate, Chiang Ken Ji (#17), deflected a corner from Gareth Keigan Lee (#1) for the third. Barely four minutes later, Ken Ji (#17) repeated this tactic for yet another goal.
In the second half, TJC changed their tactics and pressed more eagerly for the ball. TJC defenders were poised to clear and marked each NYJC player more closely. They were more composed and had more shots on target. However, none of the shots could get past NYJC goalkeeper, Mohammad Ilyasa B Ismmail (#13).
NYJC dominated even in the air, winning most of the headers. Their passes were extremely quick and accurate. However, they were unable to capitalise on through-balls from their backline for more goals early into the half.
Christian Hugh Rodrigues (#6) eventually flicked in a shot for NYJC’s fifth goal. Ferdinand Lim Jun Long (#2) rocketed another in two minutes later to seal the win.
NYJC captain, Muhammad Hakim Bin Idris (#11), said, “Today was a good win because we were patient in our play. We were passing around and working together but I think we could done a better job. But, a win is still a win for us.”
He added, “Our opponents adapted to our play eventually. In the first half, we took advantage. In the second half, they slowly had more structure in their positioning so it was slightly harder to break down but then, we still did the job. I’m proud of the boys.”
This is NYJC’s second straight six-goal victory. They will be facing Catholic Junior College next, while TJC will go up against St Andrew’s Junior College.
Scoring by half
NYJC vs TJC
1st half: 4–0
2nd half: 2–0 (6–0)
Scorers
NYJC
Chiang Ken Ji (#17) – 2 goals
Thong Giggs (#9) – 1 goal
Nguyen Hoang Dong (#7) – 1 goal
Christian Hugh Rodrigues (#6) – 1 goal
Ferdinand Lim Jun Long (#2) – 1 goal
NYJC Roster
Gareth Keigan Lee Zong De (#1), Ferdinand Lim Jun Long (#2), Darryl Ong Wei Xiang (#3), Tang Guang Yan (#4), Muhammad Danish B Sallehuddin (#5), Christian Hugh Rodrigues (#6), Nguyen Hoang Dong (#7), Kiefer Tay Si Yi (#8), Thong Giggs (#9), Lim Ngee Liang Jonathan (#10), Muhammad Hakim Bin Idris (#11), Loh Wei Zhi (#12), Mohammad Ilyasa B Ismmail (#13), Aavan Lee Kuan Ing (#14), Muhammad Danish Bin Arifin (#15), Lee Jun Jie (#16), Chiang Ken Ji (#17), Raimie Khuzami Bin Ibrahim (#18), Jalvin Nai Guang Jun (#19), Larry Lee Ken Ann (#20)
TJC Roster
Li Qizing Esmond (#1), Chan Yan Xi Piero (#2), Chow Yew Chuen Joshua (#3), Tan Jia Song Felix (#5), Vikesh Chaturvedi (#6), Muhammad Faizur Rahman B (#7), Josh Shung-Shin Yusuf, Kovac (#8), Sailesh Gobindram Thadani (#9), Ching Jia Jie, Patric (#10), Ritz Ong Xian Liang (#11), Vishnu Menon (#12), Ryan Gen Zi Qiang (#14), Kang Jun Yi (#16), Benjamin Tey Qing Chun (#17), Ho Wei Heng (#18), Ryan Tay Siang Ann (#20), Chan Shao Jing (#21), Muhanesh Haridas (#23), Tang Myo Jin (#24), Pho Jia Ren (#25)
National A Division Boys’ Football Championship – fixtures and results
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