Gnal Family Team (GFT) denied Kroniz the pleasure of a winning end of the year game when the two teams played out a 2-2 draw at MD Soccer Field on Chrismas Day Game Friday afternoon.
However Hadi’s penalty one minutes from time could have clinched a well deserved win for kroniz but a weak kicked was easily saved by GFT keeper when the score was tied 2-2.
Kroniz needed goals from Asri and Aliuddin to restore parity against an inspired GFT side, and had seemed set to complete the Houdini escape when their striker scored with four minutes on the clock.
Even when GFT was leading, Kroniz’s boys were clearly stunned by the early goal, and they sought to get back on level terms as soon as possible.
But Asri was pull just outside the box instantly handed kroniz a chance to draw level, and they promptly did so when Asri beautiful freekick ended on the top corner to the delight of kroniz players.
At the heart of the action was Aliuddin with another free kick he became the hero when his free kick on 13 minutes was spectacularly dipping under goalpost and with that leading 2-1.
On 25 minutes, the GFT finally seized the advantage, a lobbing free kick on the right for GFT striker to nod down at the far post to make it 2-2. It did not helped by the unclear sight of extra kilos on Kroniz players frame – to render the Kroniz backline vulnerable though, and GFT players made the most of the situation to pull level.
Apart from those moments, though, GFT rarely looked like a coherent threat in a first half characterized by high pace but no real rhythm.
Credit for that definitely has to go to Kroniz’s tactics, which revolved around keeping the visitors out of their stride and putting pressure on the GFT defence, for whom Sulaiman was clocking overtime for several spells in the first half.
With both teams playing well going forward, however, it was never certain who would go on to score the game’s winning goal, although Hadi should have done better than to let his penalty effort low and weak towards GFT goalkeeper.
And with that, GFT managed to gatecrash Kroniz’s end of year game – but the foods flew all around the Gadong Foodzone as Kroniz celebrated the end of another long year campaign.
Kroniz Manager, A. Bab was a proud man following his team’s impressive performance against GFT describing the match between both teams as ‘fantastic’.
Admitting his team could have won outright he nonetheless saluted Kroniz for their "nada sadarkan diri" attitude.
“We almost had all the points, but I don’t want to talk too much about this game,” he said.
“We wanted to go into this game and do our best, and we definitely did it today. We had GFT on the ropes at times, especially in a superb first half for us.
“It was good football and fantastic for us as well!”
Kroniz Asst Manager, Pg Ariffin was satisfied with his players’ performance.
“I think the players who came in today gave a good account of themselves,” he noted.
“A draw is a fair result, and I think based on this performance, Kroniz will be a good side next year if all the players are kept intact and fit. If we keep everyone and with another year of experience, they’ll be a strong team next year although some of the players are already in negotiation with some of the best clubs in Europe such as Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Another concern is when Dubai World plan to take over the club but Kroniz management will fight the take over penny with penny".
Happy New Year 2010.
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