Game 6: Penguins vs Team 10 Years Together

Score: 3-2

Scorers: Glenn (1), Gary (1), Ben (1)

Match report by: Jaspall Singh

Despite the scorching sun, the far-off location and even the timing of the game, the Penguins showed up right on time and as a matter of fact, it was our biggest turnout to date. I’m pretty sure the captain must have lost some sleep pondering the formation and who to start with, but let’s face it, he’d rather have this headache of having too many players to choose from rather than not having any options.

When the match did eventually kick off (yes, the referee was 30 minutes late!), the Penguins started in a new formation, 5-3-2. We were up against a team that has apparently been playing together for 10 years. They were a mix of experienced older guys and young lads full of energy. And right from the beginning, they took control of the game and made us chase for the balls. They had a strong presence in the middle of the park, coupled with a right-midfielder who was running circles round the defenders and was out with an aim to put the ball through the legs of as many players as he possibly could.

And sure enough, it was no surprise when they took the lead early on in the game - coming from a pass through the middle that was toe-poked in. The goal only made the opponents more confident and they started their onslaught on our goal. Shots were raining in from everywhere and many attempts were made to catch our Rico off his line.

Substitutions were brought on for the Penguins to curb their attack but it just kept growing and they were rewarded with a second goal. At this point in time, the opponents must have thought they had it in the bag and the strikers were salivating at the thought of notching their hatricks.

But no, the second goal did not weigh us down, nor did it send us on a downward spiral. All it did was spark the fighting spirit within us and right from the kick off, we upped the tempo. Everyone came together and was on the same frequency. We stringed together a few good passes and tested out the keeper. Our midfielders were running around tirelessly in the park and were neutralizing the opponents. Kenneth seemed to be all over the field and Robert was determined to mark the “number 8” out of the game.

True enough, the Penguins managed to claw themselves back into the game from a goal-kick by Jonathan which found Glenn right outside the penalty box. Sublime control and confidence got him past the defender and he slotted it into the bottom right corner of the goal! 2-1! Watch out, here come the Penguins!

The 2nd half started with the Penguins growing more confident with every kick of the ball. Jonathan was marshalling his defence with calm authority, who were effectively stumping out the attacks. With Owain and Glenn working their magic out on the flanks and our midfielders making their presence felt in the middle of the park, the Penguins were attacking the goal more often and we were rewarded midway through the 2nd half when Kenneth won the ball in midfield, took it past a couple of players all the way to the by-line before squaring for Gary to knock in an unmissable chance. 2-2! Game on!

The opponents were shell-shocked as to what had just hit them. Just when everyone thought the Penguins had nothing left in them, we upped it a notch and started wave after wave of attacks. Everyone found that extra energy in them to chase down every ball. Both teams were chasing for the winning goal and the pressure was on. This led to bad calls from the ref but we kept our cool overall and managed to keep our heads in the game.

In the dying minutes of the game, Owain, after beating a man on the left, played in Darryl 8 yards from goal, whose shot was parried by the keeper into the air. That’s when Captain Ben was the first to react to nod the ball home for the winner! 3-2!! Penguins have done it once again!

Call us drama queens, but what I personally saw out there was an amazing fighting spirit that would have put any professional team to shame. Not a single player threw in the towel when we were 2 goals down but instead played their hearts out and worked together as a team at accomplishing a mountainous task. Well done Penguins! Every single one of you out there deserved a pat on your back!

Game 5: Penguins vs. 13 Malay guys & 1 Ang Moh

Score: 5-4

Scorers: Glenn (2), Ben (1), Darryl (1), Wai Meng (1)

Venue: Tanjong Katong Secondary School

Match report by: Maxim Shrestha

The Penguins came together somewhere around the Middle Eastlands of Singapore, on a beautiful Saturday evening, for their fifth match against 13 Melayus & 1 Ang moh FC (13M+1AM). Despite both teams showing up on time, there was a slight delay to kick-off due to some referee punctuality issues. As is always the case, the Penguins used this opportunity to their advantage and proceeded to warm-up physically and mentally for the clash at hand. Some would argue later that this was vital in the eventual outcome of the match.

The first half got underway with immediate pressure from 13M+1AM. With a relatively slightly older squad, the experience and overall technical superiority of the 13&1 was clear from very early on. Playing a very high midfield line, the pressure on the Penguins defense was immediately felt. With great flank play and great searching crosses thrown into the area, it was little surprise that 13M&1AM went two goals up within the first 20 minutes. In fact, given the number of chances they missed, thanks to Rico’s valiant saves and their lack of a finishing touch, the Penguins were lucky to not have fallen even further behind.

This less than perfect start for the Penguins needed to be addressed immediately, and so captain Ben Boo introduced himself into the game after a substitution. The impact was instantaneous. A perfect through ball from midfield saw the captain run through the middle and place the ball in the back of the net. 2-1.

The defense was still being stretched by 13M+1AM’s four midfielders and two centre forwards and it wasn’t long before they added yet another to their tally to give them the 2 goal cushion yet again. The Penguins persevered though, and after a few tough midfield battles and a defensive lapse, Daryll (DE9) managed to evade the defenders and tuck a beauty into the far post to bring the Penguins back 3-2. 

The intensity was pushed a notch higher. Both teams now knew they had a game in hand. As the first half progressed the Penguins shape improved and 13M+1AM were confronted with strong resistance. Towards the dying minutes of the half, after another great movement forward, the Penguins won themselves a corner. The resulting attacking kick threw the defenders into disarray and it was the quick thinking and the agility of Glenn Wray that resulted with the ball in the back of the net yet again. The game went into the interval delicately poised at 3-3.  The wives and kids of 13M+1AM were in for a mega second half.

At half-time Captain Boo correctly noted the lack of presence in the middle and the resultant pressure on defense. He decided to change tactics to a 5-4-1 or more to the likes of 5-1-3-1, with a defensive midfield to bolster the centre of the park. The change was a piece of tactical genius.

Immediately the Penguins saw much more of the ball, controlled midfield and kept possession. The pressure was now on 13M+1AM as they desperately tried to stop Kenneth in the middle, Wray on the wings and the Messi-esque Wai Meng up front. The introduction of Owain Palmer, who arrived after a long day at work, was another major boost for the Penguins. After some good interchanging plays and passes, Glenn broke from the left and using the outside of his right foot, crossed a beauty into the box, which was sent crashing into goal from a Wai Meng header. Penguins up for the first time in the game, 4-3. 

13M+1AM, like most other Penguin opposition, were stunned. They suddenly played with new found vigour and pressed hard trying to level a game that they should have won in the first 20. In one of these attacking spells, they won a free kick outside the box. While the Penguins were still tracking back and trying to organize their defense, one of the 13M took a truly cheap early free kick to equalize once again. A harsh lesson for the off-guard Penguin defense.

But even in the dying minutes of the game, the spirit and coolness of the Penguins prevailed. Owain playing on the left wing, found space and made a charge at goal. Leaving his markers behind he took a cracking shot at goal. Though the goalkeeper found himself at the right place, the sting and shock of the shot made him spill it, only to find the feet of a charging Wray who placed the ball into the back of the net yet again.

Once again finding themselves down, 13M+1AM pushed desperately, playing an extremely high line, to try and find the equalizer. Penguins strongly stood their ground and successfully put away everything that came through. But on the 90^th minute mark, an accidental mistimed challenge outside of the box, gave 13M+1AM one last breath of hope. This time the Penguins were quick to cover the ball, organize a wall and mark opposition.

Tension bubbled like molten lava. One of the 13M (the same one) was ready. The wall of Penguins stuck together ready to jump. Whistle…  1M takes a picture perfect curling free-kick aiming for the top right. It’s too good a kick even at our level of competition. Hope slips faster than Lehman Brothers stock… but at the very dying microsecond, a hand…. Rico, at full stretch, pushes the ball on to the crossbar and out of danger. Penguins kill of the final seconds with new found adrenaline and win 5-4.

Epic.