Written by: Toh Wei Hao
Edited by: Angelina Grace Pandiman
Photos by: Eusoff Works
Today marks the beginning of the IHG journey for the Eusoff Handball guys’ team. Our team has a 4/7 chance of qualifying into the semi-finals based on base probability. I believe that it’s actually 5/7 with the standard our team has been displaying as of late. However, will mathematics and probability be put into practice especially up against a multiple–time champion in the neighbouring Temasek Hall? Read this article to find out!
To start things off, let us go through the format of the game. There’ll be 3 sets of 15-minute games with a lineup of 4 players on each side. 3 of them will be outfield and 1 goalkeeper will remain at the goalpost.
Our first line-up is as shown: (Outfield) JJ, Jovi, Tien Yu and (Keeper) Stefan.
The whistle blew and the game officially began. Right off the bat, Temasek embarked on an offensive advancement and that helped them gain the advantage with 2 early goals. As the minutes went on, Temasek scored another goal and their goalkeeper made a few good saves. However, fortunately (all skill not luck though from our players), Eusoff began to mount a huge comeback, scoring 2 consecutive goals which made it 3-2 to Temasek Hall. The ball continued to fly through the court as both teams traded saves and goals, making it a rally up till 6-5 to Temasek. Temasek then scored another goal to extend the lead by 2 goals. No hope was lost as Eusoff continued to fight back. Stefan was making impressive saves with the outfield winging it with their offensive tactics. At the last minute, the score was 9-8, but with a twist of fate, Eusoff found the opportunity to make a last-ditch effort and scored. Excellent display of technicality thus far from both teams.
Set 1: EH v TH (9-9)
our players make getting past the defenders seem like an easy feat!
Our second line-up is as shown: (Outfield) Josh, Kenson, Darren and (Keeper) Yong Sheng.
As soon as the 2nd game began, both teams began scrambling with a sense of urgency to score. The previous game was a draw which meant that both teams had to win this round to guarantee at least a draw. TH rallied at the start to give themselves a 2-point advantage at 3-1 to Temasek. However, a HUGE comeback surged for Eusoff, with FOUR consecutive balls YEETed into the net, making it 5-3 to Eusoff now. Yong Sheng was almost impenetrable like the Great Wall of China, blocking many attempts by Temasek. After impressive rallies by both teams, the end-game came with a penalty for Temasek. Prior to this, Yong Sheng had already won a 1v1 with the Temasek penalty shooter. And he did it again this time, with the final whistle blowing soon after. Great comeback and later dominance by Eusoff’s 2nd line.
Set 2: EH v TH (7-4 to Eusoff)
TH players can do nothing but stare in awe at our attacks
Our 3rd and last line-up is as shown: (Outfield) Taka, Ming Sheng, Jeremy and (Keeper) Timo
Temasek once again started the game with 2 goals to none, with 1 being a penalty. Eusoff replied strongly with an impressive jumpshot by Taka. The teams began trading once again, with Temasek gaining the advantage of having 5 goals to 2. The Eusoff outfield began to rally from behind with graceful scores into the net. In the midst of the match, a huge tackle from the opposition onto Jeremy caused an injury scare with the referees pausing the match. Thankfully, Jeremy was fine and the match resumed. With 4 minutes remaining, the score was 7-5 and Temasek further extended the lead to 8-5. Every time Temasek scored, Eusoff came back with an answer. Upon the score reaching 9-8 with 1 minute remaining, 1 of the Temasek outfield got a 2 minute suspension, which made it a 4 v 3 advantage for Eusoff. With a last minute goal by Jeremy, the match concluded with a 9-9 draw.
Set 3: EH v TH (9-9)
And there you have it! That concludes the game and we end off with an overall score of 1-0 to Eusoff! Congratulations to the Eusoff Handball guys for an outstanding performance and the victory!
With the first hurdle of the IHG journey out of the way, let’s hope that the team will be able to continue on a victorious path! Tomorrow, it’s the girls’ team’s turn to shine as they’ll be facing off against Sheares Hall. DO stay tuned for the upcoming match on these platforms. You may head on to the @eh_handball Instagram account to watch their live stream and show them your utmost support in the chat! Additionally, S+ tier commentary will continue to be provided on @ihghandball! See y’all in the next match!
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