Story by Carissa Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Matthew Lau/Red Sports
K Keerthana (RI #7) crosses the ball from the corner. (Photo 1 © Matthew Lau/Red Sports)
Saint Andrew’s Junior College, Wednesday, April 29, 2015 — Raffles Institution (RI) notched a 2–0 triumph over Tampines Junior College in the National A Division Girls’ Football Championship.
Barely five minutes into the game, K Keerthana (#7) of RI cut through the TPJC defence and fired in RI’s opening goal. This grounder was off a clearance from her teammate, Jessica Liu (#15).
RI had the upper hand in terms of offence and had more chances at goal than TPJC.
TPJC players were quick to counter-attack but the RI defence managed to contain their attacks before TPJC striker, Celine Chee (#12), posed any threat.
Defensively, TPJC players held their ground and crowded in the penalty box to block out RI shots. However, their attacks were crippled by inaccurate passing. Passes were often intercepted by waiting RI midfielders. As a result, TPJC were unable to maintain possession into RI’s six-yard box for an effective offence.
RI had two more clear opportunities at goal in the half. However, both shots rattled off the goalpost.
In the second half, RI continued putting up a strong defence to neutralise TPJC attackers. RI striker, K Keerthana (#7), stayed up high to mount attacks.
This proved to be successful as RI had many more opportunities in the second half. A well-placed cross from K Keerthana (#7) gave her teammate sufficient space for a shot. However, this shot glanced off the frame once again.
TPJC goalkeeper, Wirda Hanee (#1), saved multiple shots to stop RI from extending their lead.
In a bid to keep the scoreline down, TPJC defenders played it safer in the last few minutes of the game. They willingly conceded throw-ins to prevent RI attackers from advancing quickly.
RI employed through passes effectively to cut through the TPJC defence but were unable to capitalise for another goal until the final minutes of the match. In the last two minutes, K Keerthana (#7) slid in a grounder to seal a 2–0 victory for RI.
RI captain, Victoria Goh (#10), said, “We would like to thank Tampines Junior College for giving their all and there’s actually a lot we can learn from them in terms of their tenacity and their encouragement on the field. So, we would sincerely like to thank them.”
This is RI’s third win in three matches. They finished in second place last year. In their final group stage match, they will be facing last year’s second runner-up, Meridian Junior College (MJC). The match will be played at MJC on May 6 at 4.30 p.m. TPJC will end their season with a match against Saint Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) on May 6, 4.30 p.m. The match will be played at SAJC.
Scoring by half
RI vs TPJC
1st half: 1–0
2nd half: 1–0 (2–0)
Scorer
RI
K Keerthana (#7) – 2 goals
RI Roster
Abinaya Mahatma (#1), Vanessa Chen Hui En (#2), Simone Sim (#3), Low Fay E Reis (#4), Syahirah Humaira Bte Amrun (#5), Filzah Hanis Binte Osman (#6), K Keerthana (#7), Varenya d/o Uthay Kumaran (#8), Goh Ming Wei (#9), Victoria Goh Sze Hui (#10), Chong Yan Wen (#11), Sisyena Anusha Gunaravi (#12), Ong Pei Jie Janelle (#13), Guo Shibei (#14), Liu Chen Yu Jessica (#15), Leong Kylie (#16), Beatrice Yip Kai Wen (#17), Valerie Lee Sze Jie (#20), Victoria Tan Yee Ling (#21), Zahirah Rosie (#23)
TPJC Roster
Wirda Hanee Bte Anuwar (#1), Nur’iffah Zakiah Bte Mohd Said (#2), Haifa Nadhirah Bte HJ Hussain (#3), Quek Ching Yee (#4), Puah Pin Xuan Kevyn (#5), Ezzah Zafeerah Bte Mohammad (#6), Lee Zhi Min (#7), Farisha Hanis Bte Mohamed Noh (#8), Nur-Amelia Bte Adnan (#9), Pamela Goh Yee Ying (#10), Joanne Chen Shu Ling (#11), Celine Chee Yan Yee (#12), Iis Nasyitah Bte Seneman (#13), Farah Bte Mohamad Saleh (#14), Lynette Lua Ying Xuan (#15), Phua Shi Ni (#16), Nur Nabilah Syazwani Bte Isham (#17), Hong Seung Hye (#18), Prisca Soh Yuqi (#19), Nadiah Bte Isa (#20)
2015 National A Division Girls’ Football Championship – fixtures and results
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