ASAS 2 - Muar 2
A different day, a different time, and a different venue. Similar opponent (different set of players, perhaps), similar end result. It was Muar 2 - ASAS 2, in 2003. It's ASAS 2 - Muar 2 in 2004.
The first game of the season. After a rescheduling of the First Division's first games - one week delay. Add to it another 3 hour delay, due to a blunder by the MSC facility personnel. The game was scheduled to kick-off at 5.00PM. However, the MSC people probably missed out the fact that a Malaysia Premiere League match is to be played at the same time at the main field. A fact that resulted in the delay of our match. Am I complaining? Well, beside the fact that we had to kill about 3 hours doing nothing, I'm not really complaining. Why? We get to play at night. Without having to pay more for the use of the field after dark - the field costs more for night games.
It was a fast paced game. Probably so, because the field is rather compact, although it conforms to FIFA's minimum field size. Attacks were in abundance, but both teams were unable to create and capitalize on any clear cut chances. Muar had the first clear cut chance to go one up. We were given a penalty kick after ASAS' defender held the ball in the penalty area, during a goalmouth scuffle.
The penalty was taken by Mail. He, however, failed to convert the penalty. The attempt went directly to the goalkeeper. A golden chance to take the lead, failed miserably. From then on, the fast paced action continued. Muar drew first blood. Lone striker, Cerrud, was put through by a defense splitting pass from midfield, which saw him facing a one on one situation with the ASAS goalkeeper. He side stepped the keeper and flicked the ball towards goal. The keeper somehow managed to recover in time to block the flick. However, for some strange reason, he was unable to maintain control of the ball, and he sort of juggled the ball into his own goal; ASAS 0 - Muar 1. It stayed one nill to Muar until half time.
Muar started of the second half rather jittery. As if still dazed by the magical leading goal, the team was in disarray from kick-off. ASAS took full advantage of the situation. As the Muar defense was still half asleep, their striker managed to steal the ball from the feet of Sanol, Muar's last man, as he was trying to make a clearance. With the last man beaten, he had only Rudi, the Muar goalkeeper to beat, which he did without any trouble for the equalizer. The equalizer came within two minutes of the second half kick-off. ASAS 1 - Muar 1.
From then on, ASAS put on more pressure, while Muar relied on counter attacks. They created a number of clear cut chances, but failed to score. They, however, took the lead from a rather bizzare attempt from midfield. The shot took place from a few inches after the middle line. A looping ball, which the keeper thought was going out, but somehow dropped right into the open goal (keeper was at the edge of the penalty box). ASAS 2 - Muar 1.
The goal, however, did not demoralize Muar. The one goal deficit, made the Muar players more determined to get more goals. Muar's equalizer, was scored by Wan. His first goal for the team, after more than a year since his last goal. The goal came from an attempt made by Ceruud, which was blocked. To Wan's surprise, the ball rebounded right in front of him, and he gleefully crashed the ball into the goal. ASAS 2 - Muar 2, and it remained the unchanged until the end.
Final result: ASAS 2 - Muar 2.
Results from around Liga-A:
SDARA 4 - VIOBA 0
STAROBA 0 - SJAA 5
PDRM - K.Trengganu (postponed)
A surprising first week results. Two big guns of Liga-A went down crashing by huge margins. A high scoring weekend - at least 4 goals per game. Not bad.. not bad.. Next up for Muar. Muar goes up against STAROBA. The game is scheduled to be played at PKNS Sports Complex in Kelana Jaya (just before Kelana SeaFood, from Motorola). Muar gets to wear our orange jersey kit, since we are the home team (the first team mentioned for a game in the schedule).
It will be ironic if Muar were to win that game wearing our orange kit against STAROBA Orange.
Oh yes, I and also the players, would like to say thank you to the fans that turned up for the game today. Your support is greatly appreciated. Hope to see you again next week!! What about the rest of the fans out there? You game for next week's match?
