I guess the stakes must be very high for Orchard Rovers to progress into the next round of the competition as the 3rd seeded team. Some unsportsmanlike action from the opponents really stained the good football played by both sides. Tusser wasn’t prepared to play another tough game in the already packed season.
It was nearly cup upset if the game is only for 75 mins. But in the end, 2 lapses of concentrations gave Orchard chances to sneak in 2 goals and triumph 2-1.
Tusser have longer warm-ups compared to the last few games and that must have done us some good. Game started with tackles thick & fast, the battle was mostly in midfield. Chances came flying for both sides but Derek broke the deadlock in the 20 mins.
Derek with a deft flick of the ball to turn his back toward goal and powered an unstoppable shot to the top corner. The constant taunting and swearing from the opponent really irritated us. Half time 1 up.
Tusser was hoping for a second goal cushion in the second half. Towards the end, Tusser was content to defend the 1 goal lead but let in 2 goals in the dying minutes.
Tempers flared for both camps in the closing mins as the players are feeling the blood rushing thru their head.
Captain Weida led the team well and shone well again. Well, we could have catapulted ourselves into the ESPZEN headline but really some say it’s unlucky, some say fate. I would say we rather destroy ourselves for the best part of the 75 mins of good work done. In another perspective, the management has recognized the kind of good football the boys have dished out.
Hope all come thru the contest unscathed. We will look forward to the game vs Tembusu. In this 1st of the 4 important games to salvage pride.
