Assists: Wafi, Sepol(2), Muhd M, Mohamad, Alai, Hadi, Amin
Squad: Khalid, Sepol, Wafi, Hadi, Syarul, Naz, Muhd M, Gigz, Alai, Amin, Soon, Yasir, Zamri L, Auni, Mohamad
Artist's renditionAfter two years of false promises from their American owner, it seems plans have finally been approved for the Metrostars' new stadium. The Metrostars currently share Mumong with several hundred other futsal teams and have done so since 1998. The Metrostars are set to move to the ultra-modern Seria facilty, complete with training ground and visitors centre. They will still be sharing with several hundred futsal teams.
The Metrostars have completed the signing of long time target Amin. The skillfull all-rounder performed well in his first game, managing to get on the scoresheet to bring his tally to three for the season. Amin will wear the vacant #20 jersey.
Assists: Sepol (2), Gigz (3), Amin, Mohammad, Alai, Hadi
Squad: Khalid, Gigz, Syarul, Hadi, Yasir, Soon, Mohammad, Sepol, Amin, Alai, Zamri L, Decy (loan), Izwan (loan)
vs JKR Mech Game 1 3-3
Metrostars faced a sterner opposition than last time against much fitter opponents but they were delighted with the availability of Zamail for selection. The legend was quickly dispatched alongside a strong side deployed by Naz and he returned the compliments by scoring a wonderful shot to the keeper's left side from a distance on the 8th minute. Wafi was up to his tricks again and produced a clinical finish and Metro's second not long after. All this while, Gigz was blocking everything JKR was throwing at him, including one last-ditch tackle. Mohamad was strangely unlucky against this side made up of his acquaintances, reduced to potshots that went astray. Two quick goals did not help the situation but Naz's perseverence and a mazy, determined run through 3 players after a Sepol setup was finished by Wafi who took the ball away from his feet with an easy sidefoot. Metrostars were denied the win 2 minutes from time when JKR broke with a devastating counter to make the score 3-3.
vs JKR Mech Game 2 3-2
This time it was JKR who opened the scoring but Yasir made it 1-1 by the 10th minute. At this point of the game the Metrostars defence were resolutely fending off a torrent of JKR attacks, Khalid equal to any shot going his way plus winning a few one-on-ones. Nevertheless, JKR took the lead again with a route one attack, the ensuing header deceiving Khalid for 1-2 on the 15th. A rare attack was initiated by Muhammad when his shot was partly blocked by the other keeper, but Alai picked up the rebound and promptly hit the ball as low and as hard as he could, making it 2-2 to the amusement of everybody. On-loan Amin made a scoring impact with 5 minutes to go, deftly shrugging off 2 players on the left after a through from Zamail and finishing with a low shot to the bottom right corner. That meant a win for Metrostars, 3-2 the final score.
vs JKR Mech Game 3 2-4
The match started badly for Metrostars, conceding 3 easy goals from the get-go,even with the likes of Syarul playing. He stayed upfront for long enough to recieve a similar route one throw from Khalid and his header made the score 3-1 by the midpoint of the game. Gigz would again produce the heroics for an ailing Metrostars, with energy levels down after the previous two games against an agile side. They would only concede one additional goal after defending became the order of the day, but in the end Amin latched onto yet another Khalid throw to score a late consolation.
PotD
Zamail's wonderful array of passing was evident here as he managed to pick Amin on the left wing while under pressure. Amin pulled one defender in his wake and then turned inside to deceive another, slotting it exactly in the right hand corner.
MotM
Gigz threw himself in the firing line for so many times it was hard to ignore his total contribution. JKR would have been miles in front if not for his sturdy display.
vs Pandaria Game 1 1-0
Metrostars were licking their lips when a quick assessment of tonight's opposition revealed that they are fully expected to dominate, but looks always prove to be decieving as complacency took its toll on the whole team and it needed a messy goal from Sepol near the death to take the victory. Captain Naz again took the field with his new forward role, and carved the first chance in the 5th minute only because the team took so long to get the passes right. From there, Sepol went on his usual pivoting role, taking shots and creating chances for Naz and Alai. At the midpoint of the game, a wasteful Alai who missed a 4-yarder was replaced by serial goalscorer Mohamad, raring to open his account for the season, but he was equally guilty of passing off some wonderful passages of play by Sepol and Naz, especially an airshot on an open goal in the 23rd minute. With most of the possession and guile, the Metrostars were finally rewarded with the winning goal when after a goalmouth scramble, Mohamad lays the ball to Sepol who sidefoots it home from point-blank.
vs Pandaria Game 2 4-1
A fresh batch of players took the field and continued where the A side left off. Ariffin was spectacular in the Mohamad role (left-wing slightly-withdrawn forward), grabbing his goal in the 3rd minute from a Naz pass. Now that the playmaker role is handed down to the mercurial Muhammad M, Zamri Z and Yasmi were playing more actively around the forward line and the former's layoff to Naz on the right was perfect and the captain made it 2-0 in the 10th minute. Naz scored again after a superb Syarul forage and cross to put the home side 3 up, but the momentum was slightly dampened by a well-executed Pandaria goal. Ariffin forced a good save from the keeper at the other side from the left, while Khalid made an even better one towards the end from a shot that was traveling. Syarul sealed the deal not long after, after being put through by Zamri Z.
vs Pandaria Game 3 3-2
It was a chance for the A-side to redeem themselves from the first game and the first one to step up was Alai who smacked a free-kick straight in the top-left hand corner. Mohamad would then score his first of hopefully many for this season when he combined brilliantly with Wafi and struck a sidefooter home in the 8th minute. Wafi was earlier at guilt when a Sepol dribble and shot was spilled by the opposition keeper to the feet of Wafi but dallied with the ball untilit was too late. Loanees Decy and Amin were deployed by this point when Pandaria clawed back in with two quick goals to level. Syarul had the final word though when he smacked home a loose ball from the edge of the box to score the winner and claimed a Metrostars 100% for the night.
PotD
Amin's freekick from the right side of the edge of the area was hit so hard the keeper didn't move an inch, despite the 3-man wall.
MotM
Despite the team's total dominance, nobody played much more spectacularly with all the loose passes but Ariffin made an impressive turnout after a long absence.
The club have announced that Zamri L will be on international duty (working in Labuan) starting next week. He will be unavailable for selection for 6 months.
This is a huge blow for the squad considering that team-mate Lee Yuan Soon will be unavailable from November for 9 months. Zamri has made one appearance so far this season, scoring 2 goals.
Assists: Sepol, Naz, Zamail(Boy D), Syarul, Khalid(2)
Squad: Khalid, Gigz, Deddy, Alai, Naz, Yasir, Ariffin, Mohamad, Wafi, Syarul, Zam Z, Sepol, Muhammad, Yasmi, Zamail(loan), Amin(loan)
The Metrostars have confirmed that club legend Lee Yuan Soon will be unavailable for 9 months beginning November 2010.
The Mumong Academy graduate will be in Singapore with Biro Mencegah Rasuah. Tabloids are reporting that Soon is under investigation for match fixing, charges which the player himself strongly denies.
In the meantime, Soon, who has scored 25 career goals for his homegrown club, will be available for selection.
The dust has only just settled on speculation that the left footed playmaker would be leaving the club after stong interest from Shaolin FC. Metrostars FC have released a statement saying the club are fully behind their player.
Related Posts:
Soon commits to Metrostars
Metrostars outrage at Shaolin prank
