After losing 2-4 to Pondok 12 last week and roniz succumbed to another defeat by Jabatan Laut Team (JLT) 0-3 today at Maktab Duli Field in the hot friday afternoon.
JLT took 19 minutes to open accounts, by rare mistake by Kroniz last man JLT striker pringing the offside trap to latch onto a through ball, getting to the ball just ahead of Kroniz keeper to prod into the empty net.
Kroniz were content with playing at half their usual pace; and with a lots of issues on their minds especially LegCo discussion before the game, the potential backlash of over-exertion in this game weighed heavy among their considerations.
As if still reeling from the shock of being behind, the static kroniz backline again allowed JLT to rush past them. Jul kroniz keeper, however, did better this time, getting down quickly to deny JLT.
The only real chance that kroniz crafted in the first half – and indeed the whole game – came on 31 minutes, with its architect coming in the unlikely form of centre-back Sulaiman.
Cutting out a pass, the lanky defender strode upfield unchecked, making it all the way to penalty box before playing a through ball to Azrin and laid it to the unmarked Gnal on the right.
With the bamboozled JLT defence guilty of ball-watching, Gnal hit it first time and watched as his shot went well wide.
Minutes later, the match ceased to exist as a competition of any sort until the end of the first half.
The far more experienced JLT side began the second half with the exuberance and urgency characteristic of their youth, their eagerness for this to become a more physical affair looking evident at times.
In the 70th minute a raking ball forward was controlled with an excellent first-touch by JLT striker, who took it past the stranded Jul with consummate ease and slotted the ball into the corner of the net.
2-0, yet there was no sign of jubilation, no indication that they were savouring a lead they had fought hard to build.
Rather than a statement of their arrogance, it was testament to their confidence and clinical efficiency that there was hardly any semblance of celebration – their plan was working, the result of the match all but a foregone conclusion by this time.
Even on the rare occasions that the JLT displayed signs of vulnerability, few among the Kroniz players had any faith that anything would come of it.
JLT should have expected the Kroniz to respond in kind, yet still conspired to present JLT their third goal of the night on a platter.
Miscommunication between Shafie and his goalkeeper that bordered on comical saw the defender past to the onrushing JLT striker, and there was little anyone could do to prevent JLT from practically strolling into the box to roll the ball into goal.
“It was not just that it was an easy game. We did what we planned to do, and things didn't worked out according to plan".
“We wanted to try things out against JLT, and tried to make our formation more perfect in the second half. “We have many games in a short period of time, and so a lot of kroniz players rested for the holidays" Pg Sufian added.
“There is a big difference in quality between the two sides, and in terms of age, experience, and many other aspects, but I am satisfied with the way we played.
“We kept playing despite going behind, so I can accept this result; it’s very normal' commented Jamri.
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