Fordham
Spectators: 7542 (Terracing: 6050,
Seating: 1330, VIP seats: 162) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Amirul Cho got the match started through his kick off. Rifqi Wah fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 7th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ang Gopala Pillai having to interfere. Rifqi Wah might have been able to make a better finish in the 13th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ang Gopala Pillai. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Rifqi Wah ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 15th minute Amirul Cho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marco Saldanha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some careless play in the Fordham defense, Gara Au kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Marco Saldanha. The Fordham fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Marco Saldanha should have stopped the shot. The supporters of Doe Bamar booed when Fordham was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 22 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rifqi Wah didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Amirul Cho in the 23rd minute of play forced Fordham's goalkeeper Marco Saldanha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Fordham's Ron Soon got a good chance for a goal in the 25th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Alois Hořava had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marco Saldanha made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Amirul Cho in the 31st minute of play. Marco Saldanha showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Gara Au in the 32nd minute of the match. After some careless play in the Doe Bamar defense, Ron Soon kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ang Gopala Pillai. The Doe Bamar fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ang Gopala Pillai should have stopped the shot. Fordham's Marco Saldanha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sharizan Devan in the 42nd minute of play. In the 44th minute Alan Seng shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marco Saldanha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ron Soon in the 46thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Ang Gopala Pillai, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Amirul Cho in the 48th minute of play forced Fordham's goalkeeper Marco Saldanha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.
The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Ron Soon was the one to do the kick off. Marco Saldanha acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 52nd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Bineesh Leng. Fordham's Marco Saldanha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Amirul Cho in the 54th minute of play. When Ron Soon got free in front of the goal in the 56th minute he wasn't very focused and chipped the ball just over the goal. Ang Gopala Pillai was delighted since he was out of position and the ball would have got in if it had gone under the crossbar. Rifqi Wah sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 61 minutes, Rifqi Wah managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Fordham's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rifqi Wah was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ron Soon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. 69 minutes into the match, Doe Bamar's goal looked a bit too open when Alois Hořava came free, but Ang Gopala Pillai reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Doe Bamar's Lee Tan got a free kick in the 70th minute. It was beautiful to see Fordham's Ron Soon in action when he in the 72nd minute dribbled his way through a couple of opponents and the fired away a shot from almost standing still. First the ball seemed to get in, but turned out to be on the outside of the net. A great chance! Marco Saldanha was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 75th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Bryan Koh. Rifqi Wah received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Ang Gopala Pillai tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ron Soon sent away a hard shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Doe Bamar's Alan Seng got a free kick in the 83rd minute. After having played for 84 minutes, Rifqi Wah managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Fordham's supporters crossed their fingers, but Rifqi Wah was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ron Soon recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 86th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Ron Soon took the ball and in the 91 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Ang Gopala Pillai. Ang Gopala Pillai dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. Fordham's Azam Hsi was substituted for Ron Soon. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. Fordham fully deserved thier win.
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