Tuas - Myjia FFC began 2010 with a well-deserved 7-1 victory over Al Wahabi at Xinmin on the first Saturday of the year.
Fresh from their recent upturn in fortune which included a 5-2 win, Myjia began the match missing several players including Delvin, Wilson (out with diarrhoea) and Junhao (training stint at FC Seoul). The recent three weeks break clearly had an effect as Myjia hardly exchanged three passes before conceding possession.
The game lacked any rhythm or imagination from both sides until Kenneth put stand-in striker Jerry through on goal in the 23rd minute. With the ball rolling perfectly into his stride on the left corner of the six yard box, Jerry made no mistake with a powerful finish, beating the keeper at the near post.
Despite the lucky break by Myjia, the general performance of the team was scrappy and the team looked vulnerable when under pressure. Nearing the end of the first half, Al Wahabi constant pressure paid off when the referee blew for an unlikely penalty.
Smothering a low shot from an Al Wahabi forward, the ball rebounded off trialist keeper Lim before hitting leftback Jackson on the hand. Clearly a case of ball-to-hand, Myjia's pleas fell on deaf ears. Lim guessed the right direction but was just inches away from an excellent penalty save.
1-1 and without any clear idea or directions, Myjia continued to toil through the half until the introduction of on-loan midfielder Wan.
Bringing a sense of calm and purpose into Myjia's game, the team began to show signs of improvement with Wan in midfield before the referee blew for halftime.
As soon as the second half resumed, Myjia appeared a different team. Stringing several passes together, Eric was a split second to Jackson's low cross that flashed across the goalline.
As the minutes ticked by, Myjia's fluency grew and when the inevitable second goal arrived, it was always a matter of when.
With Waimeng released down the right, the midfielder swung in a cross which evaded the keeper and fell to the feet of Ebenzer. The youngster took a quick shot which was parried by the recovering keeper but back into Ebenzer's path who made no mistake with the rebound.
Waimeng then got himself onto the scoresheet as he strode into the Al Wahabi half and sensing ample space and time, he unleased a shot from 25 metres which swerved past the keeper to increase the lead to 3-1.
By this time, it was Myjia all the way as Al Wahabi failed to find an answer to the passing movement of Myjia. Kenneth exchanged a one-two with Vincent who had pushed himself into an attacking role and from the return pass, Kenneth finished sharply with a stiff grounder from a tight angle.
Vincent then got himself onto the scoresheet when he raced from the middle of the field and slotted home the rebound after the keeper had blocked his initial shot. 5-1 and with 15 minutes left to play, the goalscorer-cum player-manager substituted himself out and pushed the defenders up to grab their share of the goals as the season draws to a close.
Wilkin was the beneficiary of the bold tactical move. Racing to meet Kenneth's low cross from the right, the defender clipped the ball over the diving keeper to net his 2nd goal of the season.
Wilkin then turned provider when he slipped a pass for Waimeng to round off an excellent 7-1 victory for Myjia.