Bowen - A much-improved second half performance by Myjia settled a messy 6-4 affair with Nestle Singapore.
Myjia were able to call up forward Ronnie Low for the first time this season while missing regulars Kenneth Koh, Ng Yongchun and Eric Low.
Myjia were in a buoyant mood right from the kickoff and perhaps a tiny dose of complacency crept into their game as players threw away their normal passing game and embarked on solo runs.
Not surprisingly, Myjia hardly managed a decent chance early in the first half and the game was messy and put simply, kampung football.
Despite Myjia's poorest performance to date, a poorer Nestle side meant Myjia were somehow able to put themselves one goal up in the 14th minute courtesy of a poachers' goal from Jackson Seetoh.
Leong Wai Meng collected a ball on the edge of the penalty box and after assessing his options, decided on a quick one-two with Chia Junhao. The return pass was laid to perfection and with Waimeng clean through, the midfielder squared the ball to the near post for the onrushing Jackson to nudge ahead of the defender to toepoke home.
The goal was Jackson's third in three games as he start to look the part as the fox-in-the-box.
1-0 up, Myjia again played into their own shell of complacency as Waimeng despite his assist, played a poor game with his sidekick Kenneth missing through personal commitments.
The midfielder hardly controlled the game and indulged in several aimless runs which resulted in possession lost. True to the common wisdom of the game, when the midfield battle is lost, teams will leak goals and lose. And so it was, a backpass was collected by Wilson Tan from Waimeng and when the former passed the ball back to his uncle and last man Vincent Low, the veteran defender took one touch too many and allowed Nestle to pull a goal back with a piece of clinical finishing from the stocky forward.
One apiece and Nestle celebrated a well-deserved equaliser.
The game began to look like a horrible day at play for Myjia as they failed to impose their famed passing game. The midfield was a sea scrappy tackles and misplaced passes and the situation did not look to be improving until Junhao took charge.
Collecting a ball from fellow forward Chan Mingchun, Junhao sidestepped a defender and from the edge of the six yard box, placed a superb ball to the far post to put Myjia 2-1 up.
Myjia were simply unconvincing and player-manager Vincent Low was visibly worried during halftime. Vincent reshuffled and urged for a simple passing game from his troops. A key tactical switch saw Junhao pushed back to defence while Vincent operated as a striker.
The tactical switch worked a treat as Junhao dealt comfortably with the long balls launched by an impressive Nestle defender. Vincent himself was imposing himself on the defenders, winning flick ons for Ronnie and Mingchun.
Substitute Quan, on loan from Police Academy was an important introduction as he stabilised the midfield with his tackles and reading of the game.
That gave the platform for makeshift midfielder Delvin Ng to partner Waimeng in centre midfield as Myjia began to play much better.
Myjia were soon 3-1 up through Vincent with his first goal in almost 18 months. Released by his son, right winger Ebenzer Low, Vincent struck with astounding accuracy as he beat the keeper with his precision at the near post.
The game were to get better for Myjia when Waimeng struck from a freekick after tossing a coin with Ebenzer for the privilege. 4-1 up and Myjia were seemingly on their way to their biggest victory in their history.
The aforementioned impressive Nestle defender, Daniel had other ideas. Pushing himself up during a counter attack, Daniel with his powerful legs hit a beauty from just outside the box that had Raymond Tan truly beaten.
As a matter of fact, no keeper in the world could have kept the ball out as it went rocketing to the top right corner. A brilliant goal from Nestle.
The game was then settling into a pattern where Myjia were pretty much comfortable to be passing in their mini-triangles especially on the left side with Jackson in irresistible form.
The flying winger played a blinder and was a constant thorn in the Nestle defence. Time and again, Jackson flew past the rightback and Myjia players were guilty of several misses from Jackson's cutback.
Ebenzer who also had a great game finally reciprocated Jackson's effort in the 70th minute. The teenage winger with his fast improving technique swept a fantastic shot into the bottom corner after Delvin had flicked the ball into his path from Jackson's layoff.
Already with two goals this season, Ebenzer is well on course to his a personal best this season in his goals tally.
5-2 and Myjia were not finished. Junhao launched a counter attack from the back, played a wall pass with Waimeng who chipped it over the static Nestle defence for Junhao to finish with much aplomb.
6-2 and suddenly the script changed. Nestle got themselves back in the game with two stunning strikes from nowhere.
The first straight from kickoff, Daniel launched another outstanding rocket of his, this time with the goal in sight. Raymond, suffering from a rare lapse of concentration in this game was backpeddling together with the ball and into the net.
Daniel completed his hat trick with another beauty. Yet again, Raymond was beaten from long range and yet again, the ball sailed with pace over his head.
6-4 the final score and Myjia continue their unbeaten start to the season but you would suspect the form is dipping if the team don't get the passing game back - fast.
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