Pre-season Friendly Report 2

	Opponent: Eunos Crescent FC Date: 22nd Jan, 1930hrs Venue: Hougang Stadium Final Score: 5 – 1 (Abdoulaye, Anthony 2, Murphy 2)
With three pre-season matches already under their belt, the Dolphins slotted in an additional warm up game, this time entertaining the National Football League Division outfit. Jorg started with Razali and Sobrie on the wings, Winston in centre of defense and Joey in goal. Meng Meng was placed in his accustomed right fullback position. Yamamoto skippered the team with Aide amongst the substitutes. Starting lineup vs Eunos Crescent FC There was a definite mark in improvement in the performance. The team played with more fluency, with the midfield stamping their authority throughout the match. The two wingers supported the attack very well, running at the defense and shooting whenever opportunities appeared. Razali, in particular, had a blinder of a game. He tormented the opposing defenders with his many mazy dribbles, turning them inside out and laying tentalising crosses to his teammates. It was through one of his forays that Abdoulaye scored the first goal. Murphy scored the second from his delightful left wing cross, an unstoppable half volley from just outside the box. Wonderful buildup, great goal. Sengkang Punggol added a third almost immediately from kickoff, Anthony stabbing in the goal after a cross shot from Razali was parried onto his feet. In only 26 minutes, Razali showed how good he can be when he is on song. We hope he is back to his devastating best. 3-0 up at half time. Jorg rested Meng Meng, Razali, Joey and Abdoulaye at the break and experimented with 4-4-2 by bringing in an additional striker to support Anthony upfront. The team continued to dominate proceedings and Anthony duly converted another chance by towering over the entire defense to head in the fourth goal from an inswinging corner. The intensity of the team dropped with the many substitutions and Eunos Crescent promptly pulled a goal back, conceded rather unimpressively through a counterattack. A momentary and blatant lapse of concentration from the defense. Another Eunos Crescent’s counterattack minutes later ended with the striker through on goal with only the onrushing Amos to beat but luck was not on his side as his shot bounced off the upright. Murphy, who was taken off earlier, was then sent back on to replace Yamamoto to allow his niggling injury to be treated. He didn’t look out of place in the anchor role, making full blooded challenges and clearly making his presence felt by the opposition. As if he wasn’t impressive enough, he capped off the night with another wonder goal, trapping the ball from a clearance and letting fly a rocket of a shot from way outside the box, leaving the keeper grasping nothing but thin air. Even the most nonchalant spectator in the stands applauded the goal. Aside from some minor work in the defensive third which still needs a bit of work, it was an extremely satisfying performance from the lads, one that surely allows me to sleep soundly tonight. We wait in anticipation for the next warm up game against Home United in two days.