Tour de Sandakan

Match Report: 9th August vs. Blue Star. With the main contingent of players arriving around 10am on the match day (after 2hour 30minutes flight plus waking up as early as 4am to ensure arriving at LCCT by 6am), we were quite worried about the freshness of players for the first match. Eventhough 4 players + the manager arrived a day earlier, none of us actually got enough rest. 3 of us went out for drink until 2.30am, those stay in hotel also have their own activities such as watching the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony.

After checking in around 11am and before getting any rest, we gather around 11.30am to go out for lunch. The gentleman who is our host Mr. Liew was a bit late due to some other commitment. To make matters short.....we when for a nice seafood lunch as Sandakan town. After feeding us a nice lunch (we finish lunch around 2pm)......the group went back to the hotel while a few others went to visit a nearby temple. Everyone was complaining about lack of rest and once we reached the hotel.....most of the players went for foot reflexology just behind the hotel......to freshen up.

We gathered at 3.30pm at hotel lobby and proceed to the field for our first match with the kick off time targeted at 4pm. The stadium was packed (around 50 spectators plus 30+ players from both team). After some warming up, our manager (Pai Kar Lee aka Bullet Lee) announce the line up for the first game. Then of course some photograpg session and sourvenior exchange before the actual kick off took place.....

The opponent was quite surprise when we requested the game to be played in 3 half of 30 minutes as they have never had this format before. So the game started around 4.30pm. We were in control from the moment the game started. The midfielder were spreading and passing the ball around and controlling the tempo of the game. However we had some anxious moment when from one of their attack, their strikers speed took our Mr. Dribble who was playing centreback by surprise......the striker was bringing the ball straight towards our goal with Mr. Dribble chasing hard. Realising the speed of the striker, Mr. Dribble has no choice but to commit technical foul and conceded the first free kick to our opponent........the free kick did not produce any result as the ball was blasted high over our goal.....

We are now playing a faster game......attacking down the left and right flank. We managed to create a few scoring chances by was not able to make it count. The most glaring missed was by Kenny who did not connect well from Ah Long's cross. Jo also make a nice try from just outside the box but his placing shot was saved by the goalkeeper. 1st half ended 0-0.

After some changes in 2nd half, we were again in control of the game and playing most of the game at our opponents half. However the occasional opponents attack did cause us some anxious moment especially in at least 2 situation, we were left with only 3 defence as the centreback decided to lend his support in attack. However our defensive trio of Edwin, Wayne and Chung managed to cope well and break their attack. We keep attacking and our trio of Gary, Irwin, Eddy and Gaga was giving the opponent defenders a really hard workout. However the goal is still missing despite the numbers of shots we tried. 2nd half 0-0.

After some half time talked by the manager, we started the 3rd half attacking and trying to get the elusive goal. Ah Long is the culprit for missing the 1st golden chances when he managed to beat the defenders but shot high over the goal. A good run from John to the left confused the opponent defenders. Instead of shoting, John make a pull back and square the ball into the box. The defender only managed to poke the ball as far as Zac's leg......and needing to invitation, Zac let off a powerful kick, the ball hit the cross bar, bounced down and........goal.....goal..... Finally we managed to get the first goal and now we were leading 1-0.

The team now plays with more confidence. The second goal came when Mr. Dribble controls the ball just outside the D box. Instead of closing him down, the opponent make a mistake a giving him time and space.......a powerful left leg shot by Mr. Dribble left the goalkeeper with no chance of making a save........2-0. We were now in total control over our tired opponent. We managed to create some half chances but did not manage to score more goals. The game ended: Wednesday FC 2 Blue Star 0.

Man of the Match Candidate: Wai Jai, Zac & Leks.