The rain almost washed out the game on 16th Aug when Kamikaze travelled to Xin Min secondary to take on the Mercury Reds in the second game of the league. However, not only did the rain not wash out the match, it also failed to dampen the spirits of Team Kamikaze as everyone were pumped up and ready to fire.
There was a mini-crisis before the game, as there always is. 6 of the First XI players who started the previous game were out due to a variety of reasons ranging from injuries to other commitments. However, team depth was shown as the replacements were more than adequate. Ghaz returned back to the KKZ fold, replacing the injured Gerard, after a 2 month long sabbatical, and we hope he stays for much longer. The team also welcomed the return of former strike sensation Harvey, and a very heavy burden was placed on his big frame, as he was replacing Habib who was practising for a nationwide dance competition the next day.
Nayee was playing in goal replacing the injured Subra, and as usual the team were aware that they had to score loads of goals if they were to negate the keeping crisis.
Nesh was paired up with Jraj, who himself returned from injury, in the centre and was supported by fullbacks Suresh Boyee and Anand Spaceship. So in all, there were good reasons for KKZ to be confident.
And they showed as a flowing move involving Jraj and Spaceship, saw the ball released on the right flank. Though it looked like a lost cause, Ghaz chased it down, and played a first time cross across the box where Harvey finished clinically. The Malaysian Assassin showed that he still had a lot of venom in his boots.. In actual fact, it was a very close game with Mercury regularly threatening the KKZ goal and showing an impressive array of passing movement. However, the one area that KKZ used to their advantage is the incessant running. No ball was left alone. Every ball was chased down, and every opponent was harrowed till he made a mistake, and that was how the second goal was scored. Mercury played the ball back to their centreback under mounting pressure from Vijay, and Harvey hassled the centreback till he lost possession. From then on it was just a matter of beating the keeper, which Harvey did in clinical style. 2-0 KKZ, but the game wasn't over yet.
Despite the enterprising moves of Vicky and Magen, the lead was not to be increased. Rather, Mercury Reds halved it. They had a close call for penalty as Jraj brought down their playmaker inside the box. However, the ref waved off all appeals and signalled for a corner. The ensuing corner saw Mercury pull back a goal, despite Nayee's brave attempt to make a save. In fact Mercury could have scored a few more, only to be denied by Nayee and his brave defence. And so, that was how the half ended. KKZ 2 - Mercury 1
The second half, saw the introduction of Sateesh for Mohawk Vicky, and Sateesh moved into the striker's role with Harvey moving down. Seelan also entered the game for Magen to add more muscle in the midfield, which he did excellently. And so, the second half started in the same manner, the first half did, with KKZ racing to a 4-1 lead. Harvey got his HatTrick, when Prem delightfully floated a ball towards him, that he made no mistake in finishing. Vijay then got into the score sheet and ensured that he has now scored in every KKZ match he has played, by heading a Ghaz cross into the net.
But the drama wasn't over yet. Instead of being tight and ensuring that the game was thrown into the boot, KKZ let their opponents back with two own goals and blunder by the keeper which saw the ball flying into the the top corner through his hands. And so in the 86th min, the game looked set to end at 4-4, a deserved score for Mercury's efforts. However as always, the soccer gods had other ideas. A counter-attack move saw Vijay played 1 on 1 with the keeper. As the KKZ faithful held their breath, wondering whether he will keep his cool, he didn't disappoint them to put KKZ into the lead. But like i always say. These soccer gods... They are funny people with a keen sense of drama. And so, across the run of play, for no apparent reason, KKZ conceded a penalty that would virtually tie the game.
But there was to be no such sorrow, as the under-pressure Mercury player, blasted the ball over the bar, and KKZ won their second game in a very dramatic fashion. In most sense, it wasn't a very clinical game with many mistakes spread across the pitch. But the KKZ faithful will take this 3 points, and the lead in the league table with hope that they will get better in the next game. And if they do, the opponents better start fearing..
Kamikaze!!!
Match Stats:
Final Score: Mercury Reds 4 KKZ 5 (1-2)
Goals: Vijay (2), Harvey (3),
Mercury Reds (PEN MISSED)
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