SJI exposes Bullets' defensive frailties

18th April 2016

In a Group B match of the National B Boys Football Competition this afternoon, the Bowen Bullets fell to a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of SJI.

Bullets starting line-up

Although the Bullets had the lion's share of possession, they were unable to penetrate their opponents' stubborn defence and were let down by poor defensive errors to gift SJI a precious three points.

SJI about to score their first goal from a free kick

SJI opened accounts in the 8th minute with a free kick from the left that found the head of an unmarked SJI player who glanced the ball through the hands of Bowen keeper Desmond Ong.

Bullets Josiah Phua getting the ball under control

But three minutes later, the Bullets replied in equal measure. Centre-back Harith Aniq's thunderous free kick from just inside the centre line swerved every which way to deceive the SJI keeper.

Bullets Muhd Irfan receiving some harsh treatment from his marker

In the second half, Bowen were the early aggressor, limiting SJI lone striker to scraps. In the 6th minute, Bullets midfielder Josiah floated a free kick from the left to the near post as fellow midfielder Muhd Irfan got in front of his marker to glance the ball over the goalkeeper's raised arms into goal.

Bullets Muhd Irfan battling for possession

Bowen did not cherish the narrow lead as the next 6 minutes saw the defence lose its focus and conceded two cheap goals. A harmless SJI through ball found an SJI attacker who turned and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Desmond Ong into goal before Bullets captain Benny Tan could close him down.

Bullets leftback Muhd Shakir restarting play with a throw-in

SJI's third goal was an individual effort by SJI lone striker No. 9, who danced his way past 3 defenders on the left to slot the ball into an empty net.

SJI striker on his way to beating 3 defenders and scoring SJI's third goal

8 minutes from time, the Bowen defence crumbled again, allowing an SJI attacker space to lob the ball over Desmond again for a 4-2 final score.

Bowen Starting Line-Up	Jersey No.
ONG JIAN HAO DESMOND	1
MOHD SHAKIR B SIRAJUDEN	2
HARITH ANIQ B AZMAN    goal 11’’	3
BENNY TAN TENG SOON	4
RILEY MARC GOMES   off 60’	22
AIZAL MURHAMDANI B AHMAD   yellow 55’	9
R SHARVEEN RAM	11
JOSIAH PHUA YONG QI	6
MUHD ZAMANI B MD ZAMRI	8
MUHAMMAD IRFAN B MAZLAN     goal 46’   off 53’	10
MUHAMMAD HISAM B ROZIMAN	12
Substitutes	Jersey No.
KEITH  WONG JIA FENG	20
MUHD TAHALIF B ABDULLAL J	5
TANG GUAN YU	19
ITHAR NUR IRFAN B ABDUL WAHAB	17
MARCUS WONG JIAN YUAN	14
MUHAMMAD RASYDAN B ARIFFIN	7
BRENDAN TAN LEON KEAT   in 53’	15
DAVID SANJAY SINGH SAMBHI	18
ITHAR NUR IQMAL B ABDUL WAHAB   off 60’	13