Written by: Arthur Long
Edited by: Cheng Kai Wen
Photos by: Eusoff Works
It was nearing 4pm but the afternoon heat was still oppressive. The glaring sun left us baking in the supporters’ stand at SRC courts 3 and 4 as the Eusoff handball boys were warming up for their game against Kent Ridge.
When the game finally started, Kent Ridge went on the offensive, advancing and taking a shot at goal. Luckily, Eusoff keeper Yong Sheng was there to save it. This was the first of many impressive saves Yong Sheng was to make throughout the game. Eusoff made quick work on the counter with passes to the pivot, Chester, who with his towering stature, manages to shoot over the Kent Ridge centre to score. However, Kent Ridge quickly equalises. Eusoff then retaliates by scoring 2 more, with Josh leading the charge on the wing. Josh is an IVP Handball player, but was not capped this season as he went on exchange last semester. The 2 IVP players representing Eusoff were Jeremy and Jun Jie, both cracked players from A block.
Sick jumps and shots as Eusoff strives to take the lead.
LYLC player Yusoff Kim receives a yellow card early into the game. This left the supporters’ stand confused, as no one knows what he did to earn the card. The card was followed up with a 2 minute suspension for Yusoff, leaving Eusoff with one man down temporarily. The two teams then exchanged goals a few times, and Eusoff player Ben Khoo received a yellow card before a timeout was called. The score was 5 to 4 in Eusoff’s favour.
The sky had turned grey from the thunderclouds looming in the distance, while lightning flickered across the sky in the distant background. Despite the worsening weather, more and more Eusoffians had turned up to support the handball boys. A drum had also been brought, which Avina gladly took up in the supporters' stand to boost the morale of the players.
After the timeout, Kent Ridge put our boys to work and brought it back to 8 – 8. Eusoff hit back with both Yusoff and Jeremy scoring, but Kent Ridge had also equalised. When the halftime whistle blew, the score was at an even 10 to 10. Kent Ridge was giving our boys a tough fight, but our boys were holding strong against them.
Jeremy pushes on with the many KR defenders on him.
At the start of the second half, Josh put Eusoff at the lead by scoring 2 goals within the first 5 minutes. Josh had been one of the prominent goal scorers for Eusoff this game, putting himself at prime locations for the shot and always running the fast break to capitalise on turnovers. A minute after the scoreboard turned 14 – 14, Yusoff took a hit to the face. He was on the ground for a while, clutching his face in pain, before moving off the court to rest. The supporters’ stand (especially Avina) was worried for a while, but it seemed that he was fine once he got off the court, and would soon return to carry on with the team.
15 to 16. Kent Ridge was leading, and was on the attack. They would not let up the ball and our boys were struggling to gain possession. Kent Ridge takes multiple shots during their possession of the ball, but Yong Sheng makes one save after another to prevent his team from conceding another goal. The man was a wall – he would not let Kent Ridge expand their lead. 16 – 16. 16 – 17. Two Kent Ridge players somehow ended up on the ground and the referee calls for a penalty. BUT YONG SHENG SAVES IT.
Our superstar goalie who saved many shots to keep Eusoff in the game!
18 to 19. There was less than 5 minutes on the clock and Eusoff needed a goal, fast. A Kent Ridge player fouls and a penalty was awarded to Eusoff. This was it. This was the goal Eusoff needed. Jun Jie stepped up to the penalty line. All hopes were on him to equalise it for Eusoff. The court was silent and everyone was holding in their breaths. He takes the shot. THE KENT RIDGE KEEPER SAVES IT. NOOOOO. The game carries on and Kent Ridge quickly scores another goal. The referee calls a foul on Jun Jie, who gets a 2 minute suspension AND a red card?! Things were not going in Jun Jie’s favour. The referee also awards a penalty to Kent Ridge, who scores to end the game at 18 – 21.
Although the boys might have lost this game, they definitely put up a strong fight. This was the preliminary stage, and they still had an upcoming game to play against Raffles. Onwards and upwards, jiayou for your next game boys
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