Scorers; Z Fahmie Aizad
by Z;
Al Caliph got their first win of the season through a late winner from Aizad. The 3-2 win against Validus XI was tough but nonetheless sweet to the core.
The match started off with both sides guilty of sloppy plays. Stray passes and wayward clearance dominated the early period of the first half but the face of the game changed when Al Caliph took their chance and scored by Z, giving Al Caliph a 1-0 lead. Al Caliph started to have better possession of the ball after the goal but their inability to convert them into goals was punished nearing the end of the first half. A penalty was awarded to Validus XI, after Nic was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty box and their player sent Redza the wrong way to make it 1-1 at halftime.
Al Caliph came out in the second half confident of winning the game but were in for a rude shock when Validus XI took the lead early in the second half. The referee made a dubious decision in awarding Validus XI a corner kick although it was clear that their player had the last touch before the ball went out. From the resulting corner kick, one of their player managed to scramble the ball into the net for the lead.
Maybe the goal conceded was a blessing in disguise as Al Caliph went on the offensive from that moment onward. Waves and waves of attack was finally rewarded after our captain, Fahmie, who had just returned for his first game of the season scored with this left foot. The goal have persistence written all over it. Faizal gave his all to win back the ball in midfield and pass it to our vice captain, Shy who send it to the far post for Fahmie. With 3 defenders in between him and the goal, Fahmie managed to side-step them and send the ball past the keeper.
With the score tied at 2-2 and the clock ticking down, Al Caliph seems destined for another draw. But with one last twist in the match, Al Caliph got the winning goal through substitute, Aizad. Al Caliph was awarded a freekick near the center of the field with a few minutes remaining. Z tried to send the ball into the penalty area but the defender's clearance went straight back to him. Z took the ball into the box, he then made a low cross to Aizad who is totally unmarked in the six yard area. With a swing of the right foot, Aizad sent the ball into the back of the net and handed Al Caliph their first win of the season.
This hard fought but rewarding match showed what Al Caliph is all about. A team with warriors who will never give up and who will fight to the end. If Al Caliph is able to replicate this fighting spirit throughout the long season, their opponents will be in for a hard time everytime Al Caliph step onto the field.