Playouts vs Benedetto (8 Mar)

This game had all the makings of a potential banana skin league game. Faced with a highly physical team hungry for their second win of the season, Playouts were made to work for, as outstanding stand-in goalkeeper Zhuang put it, a “hard fought victory”.

Faced with a worryingly recurring shortage of players, Playouts were once more down to their bare bones. Both teams started tentatively – Playouts with an eye on conversing energy, and Benedetto sussing the Div 6 champions out.

Playouts launched high balls into the opposition penalty area with the intention to test their keeper. It paid off in the middle of the first half with a well-taken goal via a layoff header that formidable defender-turned-makelele Chong smashed into the net.

The half time break provided a welcome retreat from the sweltering midday sun. Playouts came out of the break with aplomb. Manager-turned-Ruud Isa scored with virtually his first touches of the game, bundling the ball into the net after the opposition keeper dived to save his shot.
A few minutes later, the Benedetto defense failed to clear their lines and matured and successful-in-life rugby maestro-turned-football magician Renhan scored from 2 yards out. 3-0 and the Playouts went to sleep.

The game, by now, had been reduced to a start-stop match overflowing with bad tackles, screaming and telling-offs by the Referee. In the last 15 minutes, the physical nature of Benedetto’s game paid off as position-jostling during a corner kick resulted in a penalty. Zhuang had no answer to the penalty.

The game looked to turn from bad to worse as ever-youthful centreback Guoming was forced off with an injury and Playouts were beginning to lose their shape and composure. Thankfully, with some stoic defending and poor finishing, the scoreline remained 3-1.

It was a good, hard-earned 3 points that the Playouts of yesterseason would’ve thrown away. Chins up for the game against Barclays next weekend! Thanks Benedetto for a good game and all the best for the upcoming fixtures.

MOM — Zhicong