The third week of Piala Jaya Ansara ended without any surprising results. However, as if continuing the trend from previous weeks, the third week produced a total of 9 goals from the two matches played. Will this trend continue in the proper Liga-A season come April? Are Ansara teams trying to send a message to the other teams in Liga-A?
The third week, the week where teams determine who gets to be the group leaders. At UPM A, the much fancied Kuantan team were to face Muar. Both teams won their games against K.Behrang. As both teams have automatically qualified for the semi finals, this game serves only to determine the group leader. Kuantan, after their trashing of K.Behrang, is clearly the favorite to win this tie. All Kuantan needed is a draw to see them top the group.
At UPM C, K.Trengganu were to go up againts Jasin. In this group, only PDRM have qualified into the semi finals, to be followed by the team that wins this match. Jasin needed a win to advance, while K.Trengganu will advance with just a draw.
Muar suffered our first defeat this season. We lost in the game against Kuantan. Congratulations to Kuantan for their win and for topping the group.
I have to admit, though I’ve never seen their game prior to the match, I’ve been told numerous number of times that they are a very good team this year. My first impression of them, they are well prepared and committed this year. This I can say because they were already suited up and warming up by the time I arrived at the field. To me, that’s the first sign of how well a team is prepared for a game.. Kudos to their team manager.
Though the match bears little significance in term of getting to the semi final, neither teams were about to pull any punches. They were both hungry for victory. Attacks and goal scoring chances were present in abundance for both teams as they got into high gear at the word go. A very well balanced match indeed. After the numerous attacking tag-of-war, Muar finally took the lead in the 21st minute. CeRuud, who was the team’s top scorer in the first season, scored his first goal of 2004 with a scorching right footer from the top right hand side of the penalty box. However, to the dismay of the still celebrating crowd of about 20 Muar supporters, Kuantan equalized instantly. Off the ensuing kick-off, Kuantan launched an attack from the right hand side. As if still dazed by the leading goal, the Muar defence stood and watched as Kuantan’s nippy striker dribbled the ball into the penalty box and slotted the ball past the onrushing keeper’s widespread hands into the goal. At half-time, score stood at 1-1.
The second half started with both teams continuing their eagerness to win. Chances and tries either went to the keeper’s hands or hit the posts and bars, along with a few inch wide misses. However, as with the last match, Muar’s fitness level proved to be their weakest point. Going into the last 15 minutes saw Kuantan getting an upperhand in the game. Their midfields and strikers continue to run and create havoc for Muar’s defenders who were already getting weary of the constant fast pace of the match. Thus within the final 15 minutes, Kuantan managed to score two more goals to the delight of their also about 20 odd supporters. Though down by two goals, Muar kept on pushing for goals, and never lost hope. They came close to scoring a couple of times but the strikers were not able to get the ball to cross the goal line. Thus, at the end of the match, the score remained - Kuantan 3, Muar 1.
Though we (Muar) lost the match, the team showed great character. They never gave up, not even when they were down by two goals. They pushed on until the final whistle. Kudos to the players. The team’s main weakness was displayed glaringly during the match. It was so very obvious.. the team lack fitness. The final 15 minutes saw how match fitness is very important in a game where two teams are equally balanced in terms of skills and talents.
This lost puts Muar as the second team in the group. Thus we will be facing the leader of the other group, which is K.Trengganu who secured their top spot by beating Jasin 5 - 0. Kuantan will be facing PDRM in the semi final. The semi final games have not been scheduled officially yet, but they will be played before January 31st.
I only hope, the team will have improved their fitness level before the semi final match…….
Week III Results:
Kuantan 3 - Muar 1
K.Trengganu 5 - Jasin 0
Other matches played on the same day:
Taiping 3 - Serting 2
SMach 0 - Mozak 4
i posted an entry about this tournament some time ago.. and i’ve been meaning to post an update but somehow did not get around to doing it…
anyway, the tournament kicked off two weeks ago on the 3rd. six Ansara teams are participating in the tour. K.Behrang, K.Trengganu, PDRM, Muar, Jasin, and Kuantan. 4 teams played in the first week. the first two matches produced quite a few surprises too.
first surprise of the tournament.. Kuantan’s impressive victory over K.Behrang. the win was not the surprise, though. it’s the number of goals scored which was the surprise. Kuantan, expected to win after roping in ‘star’ players from all around the league, trashed K.Behrang - scoring a total of 9 goals. by half time, they were already ahead by 6 goals. looks to me.. Kuantan is taking Liga-A really serious this time around. a sign of progress for Ansara teams?
the second surprise comes in the form of the youngest Ansara player to score in an official Ansara soccer tournament. you could say, he is KT’s very own ‘Wayne Rooney’. fresh from completing his SPM, the 17 year old Hakim scored in his debut game with KT. i didn’t personaly see his game, but i hear he’s quite a talent. KT will certainly have a more potent strike force with him around. to the other first division teams in Liga-A, especially the defenders, be aware of this young talent from KT should he be included in the line-up for Liga-A.
Results from January 3:
Kuantan 9 - K.Behrang 0
K.Trengganu 2 - PDRM 2
the second week was also a high scoring week. though not to the extent of 9 goals in a game, a total of 8 goals were scored in the two games which was played. both games ended with a 3 -1 score line. Muar winning against K.Behrang, and PDRM winning against Jasin. i can’t comment much on the Jasin game since i was at the Muar vs K.Behrang game. i did, however, have a brief chat with Jasin’s manager, Najib, after the game. what we chatted about, is a different thing altogether.. heheh..
the Muar vs K.Behrang game is the first game, after the 2003 season, for the Muar team. it is my intention to use this tournament to gauge the players’ fitness level and also experiment with a few new players. since it was the first time i got the players together, i didn’t really expect much from them. as a matter of fact, it wouldn’t have mattered to me too much, if the team lost this first game.
however, to my surprise, the team played exceptionally well - for the first 3/4 of the match. fitness, as expected, is the main thing missing from the players. apart from that, i’d say the team just need more playing time together, and of course a game plan.
K.Behrang did not field their Liga-A players in this tournament. the team playing in this tournament for them is a totaly different team altogether - their backup team perhaps?
both teams started the game aggressively, though Muar had more possession time. the first 15 minutes saw Muar making and creating numerous goal scoring chances while K.Behrang relied on counter attacks. Muar finally broke the deadlock in the 17th minute with a goal by the team captain, Fadli. K.Behrang, as if awaken by the goal, started to push forward in search of an equalizer. from then on, the game became a little more balanced as both the teams settled down and played to their strengths. K.Behrang missed a few good equalizing chances along the way. on the other hand, Muar too, missed a few golden chances to add more goals. then, on the 30th minute, Muar strikes goal once again. this time it’s the central defender, Epol, who slotted in the goal. off a move from the right hand side, Epol managed to squeeze the ball pass K.Behrang’s keeper for his first goal of the season and Muar’s second goal. at half time, Muar was up by two goals. finally, a goal by Din Bulat in the first ten minutes of the second half killed whatever hopes K.Behrang had of making a comeback. their only goal came late in the second half when their speedy striker managed to beat an offside trap. however, the goal was a little too late for K.Behrang and the game ended with Muar winning 3 goals to 1.
Results from January 10:
Muar 3 - K.Behrang 1
Fadli (1 goal)
Epol (1 goal)
Den Bulat (1 goal)
Jasin 1 - PDRM 3
Upcoming fixtures - January 17:
Muar vs Kuantan (@ UPM A)
Jasin vs K.Trengganu
