I love this game...

I'm battled,bruised,tired and i'm actually happy about it.Exactly 30 hours before,we were training in preparation for today's game when i jokingly pop-ed it to my teammates, "Guess the scoreline tomorrow".They all had grin smirk all over their faces and they began firing with ridiculous answers.And by the way,our opponent was the Subang Community Club.Everyone (including me) gave the scoreline in favor of them winning it.To the extend of somewhat discouraging was that some even said we wouldn't even score.That however,will ultimately change because that was when Matrix FC didn't have the caliber enough to match the players we currently have.

The rain finally stopped just as we were onto the puddled field.I was all pumped up for this cos i felt that i had a point to prove to all the doubters who said we were going to get thrashed badly today.The sun was up,the wind was blowing hard and the stage was set,all that's left was the referee's blow of the whistle to start the match.Time slowed down during these few little seconds,and i began to ask myself What IF's.And when the referee had set the countdown timer on his watch to 45 minutes,the sharp and distinctive sound of the whistle then broke the silence and was replaced with loud cheers of the crowd.

We were always vulnerable in the early stages cos' after all,we were the away team.And that was proven when we conceded 2 goals in less than 30 minutes played.We started doubting ourselves then,heads were down and it looked all too convincing that we were indeed going to get thrash after all.I for once,defied it and began to work even harder.I chased and fought for every ball and finally...at long last,i was rewarded.Joey engineered a beautiful pass from the center and i latched onto it,wriggled passed a defender and before you could say SCORE,i placed a shot right at the top corner of the goal.Players and supporters then began roaring like lions.And it later came into mind that i had scored....IT WAS TOTAL ECSTASY!!The game plan changed drastically after my goal,heads were then lifted and we began to play as though we were champions.It was 2-1 and the game was well and truly on...Just minutes after that goal,Joey dribbled his way into the box and was then tackled by the opposition.The referee blew his whistle and it was a......PENALTY!!!!Bryan then stepped up and to take the penalty kick.And with a calm and composed look,he slotted home the 2nd goal for us.That made the scoreline tied at 2-2 and that also ensured us that we're going back to a very happy coach at the half-time...

The second half then began with with a BANG,with the opposition raining endless attacks on us.I have to say Thomas did i very fine job marshalling the defence in the game.And after waves and waves of attack,our defense finally broke and they scored.The score was then 3-2.We all figured that after coming back from 2 goals down,we are virtually capable of doing it all over again.We pushed on and on when Kevin finally got the ball at the edge of the box and passed it to me before i rolled it down to bryan on the left wing.He then unleashed a shot to the bottom corner of the goal.IT WAS 3-3!!!And after that goal,both sides went for broke.It was end to end stuff from then on and my best chance of the match came when a corner was cleared out to me.In what seemed like a 1500 meter Sprint,i ran the full length of the field out-sprinting 2 defenders until the goalkeeper is all that was left standing between me and glory.And just as i was about to make that decisive shot,i felt a bolting pain on my leg from behind.....The defender just made it to me in time and took me out while he was at it.It was a clear foul but the referee decided it was just a corner.The pain was felt even until now...But there was a fresh wound moments later,and the pain was unbearable.Young Adam lost the ball on the wings and they took full advantage of it and scored their 4th and final goal of the match.The match ended 4-3 with them winning the match.

After shaking hands with the opposition and gracefully accepting defeat,Coach Kelvin then started briefing us and said "Football is 90 minutes,we have to close the game better next time".And he then made us feel all emotional and stuff when he said:"Even though we lost today,in My eyes....You are all winners".For Coach Kelvin to say something like that...it's like even rare-er than seeing octo-plets!!He then continued "You all played your best today and i'm so very proud of you guys.....ICE CREAM's ON ME!!!!He then added, "Before you all go get ice-cream,i want to announce that the man of the match is none other than............................IAN!!Claps then ringed all around and i can't help but feel all blushy at my 30 seconds of fame.And if i had the guts to say it then,i would have corrected Coach and said......

"It's not MAN of the match,but MEN of the match.The whole team played brilliantly,whole heartedly, spectacularly,superbly,sublimely,determined and most of all......

AS A TEAM