Scorers : Zamri Bul Shahril (2)
Another weekend of d2d division 2 football and another hurdle to cross for front runners Al Caliph FC. Phoenix FC lined up against a thin ACFC squad that started the game with a familiar 4-4-2 formation with Kathir filling in at an unfamiliar centre back position.
Despite the air of uncertainty looming around the arena with regards to the ACFC line up, all nerves were settled within the frantic first 3 minutes. Zamri's persistence in closing down the opposition defenders led to an easy opening and the man cooly obliged by tucking the ball away into the far post. 1-0 ACFC.
Just 5 minutes later, Al Caliph were at it again. A neat through ball was met with an even neater finish from man of the moment, Bul. 2-0 Al Caliph and the game seemed beyond Phoenix FC before they could even come to terms with it.
Barrage of Al Caliph attacks were to follow as a cross field pass from Kathir was met by Dinesh. Showing signs of his guardsman pedigree, Dinesh went in for what seemed like lost cause. However, he met the pass expertly, clipped the ball past the keeper and got himself injured in the process. However, the referee, fresh from his Johor Bahru expedition, wrongly adjudged that a foul was committed and ruled out a perfectly legitimate goal.
About 30 minutes into the one-sided affair, a lapse of concentration led to a Phoenix FC penalty. The foul did seemed to be committed outside the box but perhaps the JB haircut was toying with the referee's perception. Credit to the Al Caliph boys who did not contest the referee's decision.
Up stepped the Phoenix player who wrong footed Anuar with an expert penalty. 2-1 to Al Caliph with Phoenix FC right back in the game.
With only a one goal cushion before the end of the half, Al Caliph seemed nervous in possession and were lucky to not get caught by some silky through balls from the Phoenix midfield. With seconds remaining in the half, Al Caliph were awarded a throw in. With the Phoenix players doubting ZJ's ability with the ball in his hands, ZJ proved his Chinese traits by delivering a throw-in that was more suited to the basketball court.
The shocked Phoenix FC players resorted to pushing and shoving to deal with the throw-in and the ref made amends for his earlier errors and awarded Al Caliph a penalty. Shahril duly obliged and the 2 goal cushioned was restored before the break.
The second half begun in the same way as the first as Al Caliph pressed their opponents high up on the pitch. Phoenix had to be left content with drizzles of possession ad occasional sniffs of the Al Caliph goal. This was credit to ZJ who marshaled the much changed defense well guarded by the holy trinity of Omar, Bul and Zamri.
Good interchange of play down the right flank between Shah and Omar created an opening for Tyrus. Tyrus, keeping a cool head, unselfishly laid the ball into the centre and Shahril swept the ball into the back of the net to grab his second of the morning and Al Caliph's forth.
Syai and Abg Ali entered the fray and both were involved in some neat play along with Bul and the lively Dinesh as Al Caliph pushed for goals. Dinesh, once again bravely went in for a lost cause with the Phoenix goalkeeper and almost ended up losing his head in what was turning up to be feisty dual between the two.
As the game wore on, Al Caliph were presented with numerous opportunities to see off the spirited Phoenix FC challenge. Kathir found himself in the opposition box after a superb through ball from Zamri. With only the keeper to beat, despite being on his weaker left foot, Kathir should have done better but instead tried to smack it through the keepers legs. The keeper's trailing leg caught the ball and the returning Phoenix defender was on hand to put the ball out of play.
An outstanding display by the Al Caliph players as they saw out the remainder of the game to clinch a crucial 4-1 win.
The game demonstrated the team's strength in depth and winning mentality. Just one more game remains in Al Caliph's relentless march towards the title. Will they get there? Guess we'll just have to wait and watch. But if I were you, I'd be putting my mortgage loans on them doing it.
Kathir