____T.H.E. .P.A.S.S.

____From now on...

Every battle will not be an easy battle.

Hall 1 lost the first soccer match on penalties against Hall 9. There probably wouldn't be a match more dramatic that this one that I've played. Nervous defending, check. Goalmouth scramble, check. Dramatic equalizer, check. Red card, check. Goal that wasn't to be, check. Penalties, check. Undeserved winners, check.

As with most IH soccer games throughout my "career", I started on the bench. This time though, I witness a really poor first half from Hall 1. We were pegged back in defence, couldn't play the ball out, and the opponents were having shooting sessions with our goal at mercy. Needless to say, by the middle of the first half, we were a goal down.

I came onto the pitch before the halftime whistle was blown and there wasn't time to make an impact. In the second half, a spirited Hall 1 side showed remarkable determination to grab something out of the match - if Hall 9 were to win, they will have to fight it out to win. This determination was epitomised by Qibin's workrate. Usually, he was the one with the least amount of running but his sudden impetus seemed to have an effect on the team.

Sure enough, the equaliser came in due time. Turning my defender inside out, I raced to the byline with the ball at my feet. I saw Qibin approaching to receive my cut back but the defender was faster to the ball than him and the ball was knocked out for a corner. Fate would have it though that a goalmouth scramble was to ensue from the resulting corner and Qibin smashed a leftfooted shot to make it 1-1. Game on.

Later on, Kaile and the opponent striker were to be red carded when the latter reacted by throwing the ball at Kaile for an apparent elbow. It wasn't much of a surprise though. Kaile is Hall One's smelliest player though I wouldn't like to have him out of the game at that point in time - every team needs someone to rough it out with the opponent and for us, that player is Kaile.

After 90 minutes, the game was tied at 1-1 and the match was proceeded to extra time with golden goal. Probably the most undeserving moment of the match occured in this period of time when a goal would have distinguished the winners and the losers. Yet the goal was not to be.

I shrugged of 3 challenges in the middle of the park and sent an inspired through ball for my rightwinger. Sure, the pass wasn't intended to be that brilliant (I had wanted to spread play) but he was through on goal with only the keeper to beat - which he did. The rest of the team were already celebrating when the goalbound ball stucked in the mud on the goal line.

*&^$%&##^%............. it just wasn't to be.

I've heard many people telling me how unlucky it was to have a goalbound ball stuck in the mud. I've never really understood how much that meant. I've always laughed at the unfortunate player. I've always dismissed the possibility of it happening to me - I never thought it would happen. But as fate would have it....

We subsequently lost on penalties when Qibin struck his shot onto the rightside post.

As the competition format was winner/loser bracket style, it meant that we had to win our next two matches.

Last Friday, we played Hall 14 and we murdered them 5-0. I was enjoying one of my better games having eaten the rightback for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. I wouldn't say I was that impressive but it really is nice to be able to constantly make my opponent feel scared whenever I was attacking down the left flank. Hahaha... Maybe I'm just sadistic.

We play Hall 9 again coming Friday as they lost their second game against Hall 3 (or was it Hall 7? I can't really remember). Somehow, I'm having fears. Maybe it is because we didn't even manage to qualify for quarter finals last year and that's why I'm afraid of a repeat. Maybe it is because I'm afraid of making it into the starting line-up. Sure, I always wanted to play in the starting line-up but this time, there is this slight discomfort. This feeling that maybe, I'm not really that good to make it into the first team for the hall.

And then there's this fear that the opponent on my flank happen to be really good that day such that I had to run so much it would be really taxing to be able to perform well. Sure the football pundits can go on and on about what who-and-who should have done at certain moments of the match but they really don't realise how hard it is to make a correct decision on the field. To pass? To take on the guy? To cover the area? To make a run?

Damn, I'm really getting stressed. Now if only I had the good luck that you wished me then...

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