Story and photos by REDintern Clara Lau

JVSS and SPS players react as the referee blows the final whistle. (Photo 1 © Clara Lau/REDintern)

JVSS and SPS players react as the referee blows the final whistle. (Photo 1 © Clara Lau/REDintern)

Jalan Besar Stadium, Friday, April 12, 2019 — A last minute goal helped Jurongville Secondary School (JVSS) edge out St. Patrick’s School (SPS) 3-2 in an intense National B Division Football League 1 Championship final.

In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Friday afternoon’s final was an evenly contested match with both teams unafraid to throw players forward and attack aggressively right from the kick-off. With both teams unable to get a real grip on the game, possession alternated constantly throughout the first half, and nothing could separate the teams as they went into the break with one goal apiece.

The attacking intensity carried through to the second half with both teams scoring one each before the end of regulation time. As the match looked destined to be headed for a penalty shootout, it was Mohd Arsyad (JVSS #16) who smashed home the deciding goal in the dying minutes of extra-time to seal the game for JVSS.

The two-goal hero spoke about the last goal after the game, saying: “I feel very happy, I really didn’t expect it. I owe a huge thank you to my teammate (Abdul Raziq #20), because he was the one who shot the ball but the keeper saved it and all I had to do was hit in the rebound.”

The first goal of the game came just after nine minutes, when SPS were awarded a free-kick right outside the box — an opportunity that their captain, Mohd Afiq Iqbal (SPS #10), converted beautifully into the top right corner of the net.

JVSS were quick to respond, and the equaliser came just before the 16th minute. A brilliant solo run by Mohd Arsyad (JVSS #16) saw him cut into the box from the left wing, manoeuvre his way past several defenders, and calmly slot the ball past the keeper.

As the second half began, it was JVSS who looked more threatening with Ahmad Mirza (JVSS #11) and Nabil Khairulilham (JVSS #15) hitting the post in quick succession.

Their persistent effort finally paid off in the 56th minute when Nur Fazli (JVSS #4) converted a free-kick to give JVSS the lead.

SPS fought back, looking for the equaliser. As JVSS desperately attempted to defend their lead, a couple of rash tackles resulted in several of their players getting yellow carded.

In the 74th minute, SPS finally found their equaliser as Carlos Ang (SPS #9) headed the ball home off a cross from a corner kick. At the end of 80 minutes, the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of regulation time with the score levelled at 2-2.

Exhaustion and frustration became evident as extra-time kicked off, as the game grew even more intense and fanatical. With both teams struggling to find a breakthrough, the match looked set to go to penalties.

With little time left on the clock, JVSS drove up the pitch for one last attack. Abdul Raziq (JVSS #20) caught sight of goal and attempted a long-range shot — his on-target attempt was parried by the keeper but Mohd Arsyad (JVSS #16) pounced on the loose ball and smashed it into the back of the net sending his team and supporters into a frenzy of delight.

His goal proved to be the deciding factor, as the match ended 3-2 crowning JVSS the B Division football champions, leaving SPS players sprawled across the field in disbelief. When asked about his thoughts on the match, Arsyad (JVSS #16) said: “I’m just very happy to get the championship, and I’m really proud of the team and our performance today.”

SPS’s coach, Mr Irfan, also commented on the game saying: “This is what a final is all about, it had all the ingredients of an exciting game and even a late sucker punch — it’s just unlucky that we are at the receiving end of it.”

Despite the defeat, he hopes his players would enjoy this experience and learn from it, adding: “I hope they will carry on all the values and lessons they learnt throughout this journey — all the hard work, determination — and bring it on to the next level and apply it to all other areas of their life.”

Score
Jurongville Secondary School vs St Patrick’s School
Half-time: 1-1
Full-time: 2-2
After extra-time: 3-2

Scorer
JVSS
Mohd Arsyad (#16) – 2 goals
Nur Fazli (#4) – 1 goal

SPS
Mohd Afiq Iqbal (#10) – 1 goal
Carlos Ang (#9) – 1 goal

JVSS Roster
Umayr (#1), Mohd Zakir (#2), Mohd Irfaan (#3), Nur Fazli (#4), Aaron Ravin Raja (#5), Syafi Nur Hilman (#6), Mohd Izrafil (#7), Soo Jie Jun (#8), Mohd Izwan Chik (#10), Ahmad Mirza (#11), Mohd Rayyan (#12), Nabil Khairulilham (#15), Mohd Arsyad (#16), Mohd Aqif Ilfyan (#19), Abdul Raziq (#20), Mohd Ryan Nifail (#21), Daniel Danesh (#22), Jann Lorae De Guzman Rodriguez (#23), Mohd Sofian (#24), Danial Hanif (#25)

SPS Roster
Ethan Gomez (#1), Rohan Hariz (#2), Mun Kye-Jin Shawn (#4), Syafi’ie B Redzuan (#5), Nicholas Jordan Sea (#6), Mohamed Nafeez (#8), Carlos Ang (#9), Mohd Afiq Iqbal (#10), Danish Mohd Rizky (#11), Nur Mohd bin Johan (#13), Gabriel Ian Ong (#15), Mohd Aniqq Zahirulhaq (#17), Gerald Gan (#18), Dahnesh (#20), Ali Redza (#21), Dinie Haikal (#22), Moritz Faizal Radewaldt (#23), Tengku Mohd Rassul (#26), Ilyasin Zayan (#27), Mohd Irshad (#30)

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