Vipers AS. 2 - 4 Avengers FC.
Scorer(s): Lau Hung Tuan (62’)
Royston Poh (86’)
Vipers Académie Sociale’s (AS) misery continued as they lost 4-2 to Avengers FC to succumb to four straight league defeats. Managed by former Vipers AS striker Jeff Lim, who team was on a 3 game winning run before the match, Vipers AS left themselves with too big a gap to overcome as they trailed 3-0 at the break.
The team started with a 4-4-2, with Ewan in goal, Siwei, Nicholas, Fairuz and Mick making up the back four, with Asyraf and Ken in the center of the park. They were flanked by Mizan and Jia Hao, with youngster Royston partnering Eddie up front in his first start for the club in over a month.
Vipers came close to breaking the deadlock in as early as the 5th minute, when they were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Royston took the free kick and saw his effort narrowly skimming the crossbar before going over. Avengers were quick to get into their stride, and were ahead 5 minutes later. An easy one-two saw their striker easily run between the Vipers AS center backs, before running through on goal and putting the ball into the bottom right corner.
Avengers almost went 2-0 up in the 23rd min, as another simple wall pass saw their forward going through one-on-one again. This time Ewan pulled out a quick reflex save, diving down to his left to palm the ball out for a corner. Avengers did get their second goal in the 27th min, when Ewan spilled a cross from the left, and an Avengers player was quickest to the loose ball and tap it into an empty net.
The Vipers AS defense, who had already shipped 20 goals in 5 games, conceded again just a minute after the second goal. After three failed attempts to clear their lines, as the ball was crossed from the right to the far post, where a completely unmarked Avengers left winger sneaked in before easily burying the ball into the net.
The second half saw a marked improvement in Vipers performance. The players kept possession and maintained patience. Avengers players were made to chase for periods as the Vipers players moved the ball with quick and precise passing. Vipers AS managed to pull a goal back in the 62nd minute, when Kevin put in a cross from the right, and Tuan, having ran half the length of the field, dove in to head the ball beyond the keeper.
However, eagerness for a second got the better of Vipers AS as the players started making ambitious passes again, before losing possession and being caught on the counter by Avengers. On the 70th min, Avenger right winger dribbled the ball into the 6 yard box, and some how managing to squeeze the ball between Jie En and the near post, with the young keeper only managing to parry the ball into the net.
Royston reduced the arrears in the final 10 minutes after he managed to loop the ball into the net from Asyraf’s flick on a cross to him with his head, but it was too little too late as Avengers took home all 3 points with a 4-2 victory.
*Vipers AS man-of-the-match: Lau Hung Tuan – the senior player made his experience count and added a goal to his name for his contributions.
Line-up: Ewan Lim (gk), Mok Siwei, Fairuz Sanib, Nicholas Lee, Mick Ho, Ken Choong, Asyraf Ismail, Mizan Dani, Pek Jia Hao, Eddie Chow, Royston Poh.
Substitutes: Chua Jie En(sub Ewan), Abdul Rashid(sub Siwei), Kevin Chow(sub Mizan), Lau Hung Tuan(sub Asyraf), Alvin Goh(sub Eddie), Richard Lee(sub Mick)