Written By: Choa Zhao Xiang Edited By: Valerie Chua & Jolene Wong Photographs By: Eusoffworks
After such a long wait, our Eusoff Soccer girls are finally playing their IHG Soccer carnival! After months and months of hard work, countless miles of running and skill training, their efforts will now come down to this very exciting day! 6 halls will be pitted against each other. The carnival started on a blazing Saturday morning, but our girls were unfazed. Their first match was against Sheares and they were rearing to go. Starting the game, Eusoff looked strong. But Sheares were confident in their game plan and their barrage of attacks were difficult for Eusoff to handle. However, goalkeeper Joey, proved to be a great wall for Sheares’ attack. They forced many saves from the handball captain but Joey only continued to build up confidence from her string of saves. Her efforts kept Eusoff in the game as the team tried tirelessly to break the seemingly impregnable Sheares defence. Veteran Bong came close towards the end of the first half, as she worked her way past a couple of defenders, wowing the crowd. Unfortunately, the attack broke down and the half ended. The second half saw both teams locked deeply in a tactical battle. Two handballs were caught on our girls and free kicks were awarded to Sheares. HOLYMOLY because the free kicks were given right outside the penalty box. Luck was on our side as those free kicks went slightly above the post! Sheares and Eusoff tried hard to break down each others’ defenses but both sides maintained resilience in gameplay and the match ended 0-0. Despite starting the day off with a goalless draw, the girls were not going to be discouraged.
Captain Qiqi closing in on Sheares’ goal.
After they went back to the stands to regroup during the break, they began their second match against King Edward (KE) VII Hall with a fierce and offensive mentality. Right from the get go, Rika and Bong combined to produce two very good attempts but the KE keeper saved both attempts. Super close! The KE players regained their momentum and drove down the flanks! The KE left wing weaved past three of our Eusoff’s defenders and rolled the ball into our goal. 1-0 to KE. Eusoff continued to try to break past the KE defence with pace but the opposition defence stood their ground, making it 0-1 at half time.
The second half resumed and just two minutes in, KE came extremely close to a second goal. A high ball was not dealt well with by Joey, and it flopped behind her, nearly resulting in an own goal. The resulting corner however, led to a handball foul getting committed by Belle in the penalty area. This resulted in a penalty being awarded to KE but the shot was fired directly into the hands of Joey. Through strong support by defenders like bball captain Val and attacking prowess from Rena, Bong was given a chance from far out to score but nearly missed. A free kick was award just before the match ended up Bong unfortunately saw her attempt once again go wide. It was fantastic display from both sides but unfortunately KE emerged victorious from the affair 0-1.
Elis keeping the ball away from her KE defender like a pro.
Despite being upset with their loss, the Eusoff team gathered during the break to motivate each other, getting pumped up for the next game, against a lively RH. Just one minute in, Eusoff quickly made up for their losses with an early goal by Trang. A low cross from the left wing is tapped in by her, making it 1-0. Merely minutes later, Li Ann scored as slotted a goal past the quickly with much ease to make it 2-0. The girls were cruising and looking confident. But they didn’t just stop there! Many good plays including a nutmeg from Hui Ling and dazzling dribble from Elitz wowed the crowd. Simply amazing skills! Val attempted a shot from outside the penalty box was saved by the RH keeper. However, the keeper fumbled and Hui Ling pounced on the loose ball and converted the golden opportunity to make it 3-0 for the first half! WHAT A GOAL! The second half was no different. Eusoff continued to show grit and determination. Eusoff were given a great chance to make it 4 when Rika’s shot hit the RH defender’s hands. Bong would eventually miss the awarded the penalty, but made up for the mistake moments after in an almost identical scenario. Another handball foul was committed by RH, Bong, unaffected and still confident with her abilities, stepped up once again for the penalty. She made no mistake and in the blink of an eye, it’s 4-0. Crowd went wild as ex-captain Bong scored the penalty WOOHOOOO!!! Rika, who had been extremely dangerous in attack, managed to score the fifth goal with an amazing inside foot curl from a cross that somehow managed to find the back of the net. It was made 6-0 in the dying minutes as Eusoff capitalized on RH’s goalkeeper passing directly to them by mistake. That unleashed Faith clear on goal and she scored.
The emphatic scoreline was Eusoff’s first win of the game and this was not going to be their last. The next game was a crucial one against Temasek. With the points for IHG being ever so tight, this match would not only help them in today’s standings, but would provide us much needed confidence and motivation for the upcoming games. Just one minute in as supports were still moving towards the pitch from the stands, Eusoff did a damn sick play! A goal kick was passed from Joey to Val, who then kicked it to Claudia, who ran down the flank with the ball. With a nice and powerful cross into the penalty box, Li Ann attempted a shot on target that was well saved by the keeper! But the power and curve behind the shot was too much for the TH keeper and she failed to catch it properly. The loose ball was then picked up by Li Ann, who was just nearby and went for the rebound, before slotting the ball into the empty net effortlessly. GOALLL 1-0 to Eusoff!!! Both the crowd and players went wild! This important lead would continue until the first half whistle was called, despite TH coming close on a few occasions.
Rena (left) and Li Ann (right) sharing a moment as the celebrated their goal.
The second half kicked off and both teams were locked in a stalemate during its early moments. Eusoff’s best chance came when Bong controlled a high ball with a deft touch, passing it to Rena on the left flank. Rena however, missed the opportunity as the keeper saved her shot despite her great attempt on target. Things were a little nervy as TH’s attack looked to progress with teeming passes. However, our defence were not shaken and continued to stay focus. Ball stoppers Belle and Val completely stopped the TH IVP players from progressing into the penalty box. Val-Belle power indeed. Li Ann then came very very close when a set piece was delivered excellently by Bong but her shot was deflected off the defender. In the dying minutes, however, TH’s determination saw them equalized at 1-1. A fantastic team effort led to the last minute goal and it had meant that TH had won the Football girl’s IHG. Despite that, the girls performed extraordinarily well and still had their final game against KR left to play.
The match proved to be no easy task. Both teams were equal in ability and were not going to let up. Bong came close with her free kick in the first half but it was comfortably saved by the keeper. Several corners gave Eusoff the chance to create something but KR’s well organized defence made it hard for the girls to score. The first half finished 0-0. Even as the second half progressed, both sides still found themselves unable to break the deadlock. It was a tense affair and the Eusoffians were giving it their all. Val, the defender, out-strengthened several opponents and kept Eusoff’s clean sheet. Despite getting injured in the final few minutes, she had put up a phenomenal performance throughout the game. Both sides were too equally matched and the game ended 0-0. That concluded the end of the Eusoff Soccer Girls’ team season, coming in at 4th place. Good job girls! Although on paper, it did look like our Eusoffians lost and it did look like major setback in the greater scheme of things. However, in the supporter’s eyes, our girls have put up such spectacular and inspiring performance. Their journey was nothing short of sacrifice, hardship and growth. Most definitely, they would walk away from today’s pitch, knowing they have put up and amazing fight till the end. Their performance will undoubtedly spur our remaining sports to give their all no matter the circumstances.
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