Charles's first hat-trick for Club M

 

Punggol – The dodos became a step closer to winning the championship after their 5-1 demolition of GoldmanSachs, thanks to a hat-trick by Charles and two goals from Goolaup. Rain had earlier brought some uncertainty about whether the game would go on or not. But thankfully, Mother Nature allowed the games to take place. Club M was in full force for this encounter with 16 players being present. Our adversaries looked impressive physically and the fact that it was their last game in the RS league, gave them a greater impetus to throw everything into the match.

The dodos have played against tougher opponents before and were undeterred by the physical challenge that awaited them. The defense was, however, missing ‘Le grand Manitou' or the so-called ‘chef-du-village' on the left side, after he was sent off against the Lions. Club M exerted an early pressure on the Sachs and they defended in numbers. Before the game, the dodos were anxious as they knew they needed an early goal in this game to prevent any repeat of the match-up against ‘the Uncles'.

After 5 minutes of play, the dodos were relieved as Charles scored his first of the afternoon with a powerful drive from just outside the penalty box, giving no chance to the keeper. He was again on target a few minutes later, scoring with a simple tap-in after some great work by Fardin on the left, who escaped his marker to send a square ball into the 6-yard box. Charles was unmarked at the far post to score an easy goal.

The Sachs did cause some worries to the dodo's back-line, as they adopted a counter-attacking style strategy. They used the right flank tremendously and ground crosses were sometimes difficult to deal with as the ball drifted over huge patches of mud. They had their first chance of the afternoon just after they conceded the second goal when their No. 9 dribbled his way past the dodo's defense on the right-side of the penalty box, and blasted a low shot towards goal. The dodo's keeper reacted quickly and blocked the shot comfortably.

Charles completed his hat-trick after just 15 minutes into the game. This time he inherited the ball from Bernard on the right, outside the penalty box. He dribbled past the central defender and unleashed a shot directed at the near post to beat the helpless keeper, who was substituted after Goolaup scored the fourth goal. The latter was given a chance upfront as the dodos were short of striking power, with Alwyn injured and Sandi suspended. Goolaup did a great job, indeed, scoring two superb goals.

His first came mid-way through the half as he was put through the defense from a pass by Nicolas. He beat the Sachs'defenders with his dazzling speed to hammer home a goal from close range. His second was identical to his first goal. He collected a loose ball in midfield and sprinted past the obviously tired defenders to slide the ball past the new Sach's keeper. Five minutes before the break, Mehdi had a great chance to add insult to injury when he appeared, unmarked, at the end of a cross from Goolaup on the left. His shot flew above the post for a goal kick. The first half ended with the dodos leading 5-0.

The second half was a different story from the first one as Club M players sort of stepped on the brakes and found themselves under constant pressure from the Sachs. They were a revitalized side in the second half and were very motivated, indeed, to reduce the deficit. They inherited a free-kick a few metres outside the penalty box on the left, after a foul by Alister. The shot was deflected by Djamil's backside, as it flew towards the far side of the post and heading for goal. The dodo's keeper was, however, well alert and pounced on the ball to produce a good save.

The Sachs got one goal back 5 minutes after the restart when a free-kick, before the center half was very quickly taken and took the whole defense by surprise. A Sach's player managed to leave his marker in the wind to find himself with only the keeper to beat. He made no mistake sliding the ball past the dodo's keeper at the near post. Frustration began to creep into all the dodos, forcing them to commit unnecessary fouls and conceding dangerous free-kicks.

With a 4-goal cushion, the dodos were not going to throw that away. Their nerves began to settle in mid-way through the half and they had a couple of good chances to increase their goal tally as Christopher, Marc, Charles, Nicolas and Dickson all missed good chances to score. The Sach's keeper was playing more like a last man rather than a goalkeeper and did very well to cut down all the through balls from the dodos.

Club M were unable to find the back of the net in the second half and the score-line stayed at 5-1. The dodos are now a victory away from assuring that the title goes to dodo land and their next game will be crucial. Their last two opponents are Tsunami Ravens and BIFC.

 

Thierry Chue

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