Second-Half The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars 9-6 Within minutes of the restart, Kenny receives the ball from Jianhao on the left flank. Taking advantage of some slack marking, Kenny lets fly with a left-footer rocket, leaving the keeper with no chance. The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars 9-7 9-8 9-9 The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars 10-9 Some great passage of play in midfield leads to a goal of the highest team order as the game enters a crucial period. Superb passing between the NIE Legends frees Kenny on the left. The striker cuts back a square pass to Derrick and the midfielder makes no mistake with a deft right foot finish that lands the ball in the bottom left corner of the net. The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars 10-10 10-11 The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars 11-11 12-11 2 great goals by Adrian within minutes of each other leads to NIE Legends holding a one-goal cushion. The first goal, a right foot curler, leaves the keeper stranded and the second, a tap-in after a defense-splitting pass from Derrick leaves everyone breathless as the match reaches its final flourish. The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars 12-12 The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars 13-12 The last goal of this 25-goal thriller is scored by Kenny as he ends up with 4-goal apiece along with his strike partner, Adrian. A truly edge-of-your-seat match whereby both teams committed themselves to attacking football. Second-leg, anyone? Brought to you by Adrian and Kenny Kenny
0 - 1
Adrian let fly from 15 yards to quickily level the scores at one a piece. An instant response from The Legends after going 0-1 so early on. And what a strike. 1-1
The Legends (vs) JX All-Stars
1 - 1
Kenny recieved a neat pass from Adrian with his back to goal. Seeing the goalkeeper slightly off his line,the forward impressively held off his marker before passing the ball just beyond the keeper into the net. 2-1
The Legends (vs) JX All-stars
2 - 1
Jian Wei was linking up well with Adrian on the right touchline. Playing neat one-two's and fanciful backheels,their wing-play was a treat to watch.
Jian Hao found his half twin(haha..not really!) Jian Wei with a teasing cross from the left and the latter;turining up on the far post, took his time to fire home calmly with only the keeper to beat. 3-1
The Legends (vs) JX All-stars
3 - 1
Jeryl was immediately place in goal when drafted into the team and was called into action almost instantly but was otherwise rarely tested. At least for the time being! RenXing,back in action after a few weeks out was back to his battling best and was a driving force behind much of The Legends play.
Embarking on a mazy and eye catching run, Jian Hao jolted past two challangers before flashing an audacious shot which remarkably caught the goalkeeper by surprise. A goal which had class written all over it. 4-1
The Legends (vs) JX All-stars
4 - 1
Derrick and Jian Hao now formed the spearhead of The Legends attack in replace of Kenny and Adrian (resting) and the two were wrong footing the defence with alarming ease. Arguebly the most gifted dribblers on our team second to probably only Alaric, Riquulme N C.Ronlado combined to momentaraily save our blushes. Having thrown away a 3 goal lead at 4-1, it was now all square and we needed a goal from somewhere. Derrick quickily obliged.
The Legends (vs) JX All-stars
4 - 1
4 - 2
4 - 3
4 - 4
Jian Hao did all the running and found Derrick who quickily played a one-two;getting the ball back on his(Derrick) favourite right foot which had the opposition frozen. How they move the ball so well in such a congested space is beyond me! With the keeper seemingly stunned, Derrick made no mistake with a close range strike. Nice one mate. and it was thankfully 5-4.
A long ball from Jeryl was EATEN up by Kenny in the middle of the court and he quickily layed the ball to Adrian. With Kenny and Derrick to his left but slightly behind, there was only one thing in the striker's mind. Placement over power as he gently curled his shot away from the advancing defender which easily beat the keeper whose view of the ball was blocked. An emphatic equaliser to level a heart stopping match at 6-6.
A scintilating move that captured the attention of everyone was started by Derrick. Linked up by Kenny. And Scored by Adrian. In a game of rolling subs,Kenny now replaced Jian Hao and there was a sense of nostelgia when he took his place side by side with Adrian and Derrick as the orininal 3 were reunited. sounds gay but hey,who cares? lol.
Derrick found his marker and stepped away from him neatly, pulling him out of position before passing the ball to Kenny. The big forward turned sharply as Adrian made a darting run from the left and Derrick spotted him straight away. When Kenny's return pass found Riqueme, there was no doubt in his mind as he drilled an inch perfect pass across the face of goal and Adrian's superbly timed run was matched with an equally impressive finish;sweeping the ball home from close range. A goal of the highest order. A team goal. 7-6
Kwok Ley feinted past his opposite number in a nice move which included yeow,mOo and ReN xing. Kenny,for most of The Legends offensive threats, became a fulcrum where attacking players Adrian,Derrick,Jian Hao etc could play off. This time however, the move which resulted in a two goal cushion came far more directedly. Dictating play from the centre Kenny advanced swiftly and opted to shoot from distance which oppsing keeper had no chance to keep out whatsoever. A pure instinct for goal is what marks Kenny apart from so many strikers. 8-6
A short break gave both sets of players a time to catch their breadth before
time;9:21 PM
Name: Alaric
Position: Defender / Midfielder
Squad No: 14
An outstanding player, this defensive rock has been one of the main reasons for NIE Legends successes on the court. Cool and composed on the ball, he distributes the ball to his teammmates with minimunm fuss. An elegant ball player, his ball skills are a dying breed among defenders. Technically, there are few player better than him. This, coupled with his brilliant awareness, makes Alaric the perfect cataylst for launching the team's swift counter-attacks.
Name: Kyle
Position: Defender
Squad No: 13
Though not always a first-team regular, Kyle has performed admirably in his sporadic outings for NIE Legends. While some may think that he is too laid-back and casual in his play due to his ever-present toothly grin and random outbursts of laughter, there is always a steely determination in him to win the ball back whenever possesion is lost. Tough-tackling and cool-headed, Kyle is fast becoming a linchpin in the centre of defence.
Name: Renxin
Position: Goalkeeper / Defender / midfielder / Striker
Squad No: 18
Argubly one of the most versatile players ever to grace the NIE court, Renxin has proved to be a major asset in NIE Legends quest for glory. For what he lacks in flair, he makes it up with his undying commitment and whole-heartedness. Renxin has the uncanny ability to rise to the occasion during big matches and wears the club badge on his heart - an excellent testimony for his loyalty to the club.
Name: Chupei
Position: Defender / Defensive Midfielder
A passionate and committed player, this defensive hardrock does not shirk a challenge. Due to his boundless stamina, Chupei is often called upon to perform a ball-winning role in the middle of the park. His no-nonsense approach and superb tackling proweress has been vital to the stability of the team's midfield. A versatile player who can play in defense, Chupei is not one to hold his punches in a game. You have been WARNED !
Name: James
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Squad No: 3
An enforcer in the middle of the park as some would like to call him, James makes his presence felt through his sheer physical presence. A player who occasionally joins in to support the attack, his long range shooting ability has already seen him score some crackers this season. His workman-like performances and energetic displays have been a treat to watch.
Name: Jianwei
Position: Winger
Squad No: 22
Jianwei's mesmerising dribbling skills and blistering pace has led him to own the right side of the NIE court for as long as anyone can remember. Has a knack of scoring vital goals for the team due to his agility and excellent sense of positioning. Jianwei's ability to ghost into the penalty-area while catching defenders off-guard has seen him contribute significantly his goal tally.
Name: Kwok Ley
Position: Winger
Squad No: 5
Kwok Ley's close ball control and shooting ability has enhanced his reputation as one of the game's most feared winger. With his excellent mix of pace and physical presence, Kwok has caused defenders many sleepless nights. His ability to cover every inch of cement on the court, in addition to his uncanny ability to score beautiful goals, makes Kwok a real menace for any defense.
Name: Derrick
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Squad No: 7
The "Riquelme" of the team as he would like to call ... I mean as others would like to call him, Derrick is without doubt one of the most creative players in the game. While speed may not be his greatest asset, his speed of thought is definitely up there with the best. His eye for killer through passes has been likened to a hot knife through butter. With his arsenal of tricks, Derrick has firmly established himself as one of the most feared playmakers in the game.
Name: Jiaxuan
Position: Central Midfielder
An excellent ball-player on the court, Jiaxuan is a real delight to watch when in full flow. A wonderful passer of the ball, Jiaxuan has the ability to dictate the pace of the game. Sending in accurate crosses and through passes are all in a day's job for this talented midfielder. Not one to just attack, Jiaxuan has also shown an absolute willingness to track back and defend.
Name: Jianhao
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Squad No: 8
Signed for an undisclosed fee during the pre-season from BTT 21, Jianhao first impressed while playing in a friendly against NIE Legends. While it is never easy playing against a team like NIE Legends, the diminutive midfielder held his own in the centre of the park against the titans. Crisp-passing and eye-catching dribbles are hallmarks of Jianhao's game. Thrown in the cauldron of the famed NIE court almost immediately, the midfielder has put in stellar performances week in and week out.
Name: Yeow
Position: Central Midfielder
Squad No: 20
A fierce competitor on the court, Yeow has been the "heartbeat" of NIE Legends. Not one to rest on his laurels, this midfield dynamo gives his 110% in every game. Yeow's steely resolution and winning mentality has spurred his teammates on in numerous occasions. His tactical awareness plus his ability to rise to the occasion makes him an indispensable member of the team. On the court, Yeow has few peers in his league.
Name: Daryl
Position: Winger
Squad No: 23
Daryl's football ability has never been in doubt. His footballing skills allows him to march... and I mean MARCH into any first-team. Daryl has a fondness for searching lobangs... I'm sorry... holes in the opposing teams' defences, causing mayhem in the process. Unlike any other players around him, Daryl has many...I mean rarely has an OFF DAY in any game.
Name: Adrian
Position: Forward
Squad No: 9
Pace is this player's main asset. You never know what's going to happen each time Adrian gets the ball. Though not the biggest of players on the court, Adrian makes it up with his acute sense of positioning on the court. This has seen him score goals by the dozen on the court. An unselfish player by any standards, this goal-getter also likes to pull defenders towards him, creating more space for his teammates to score.
Name: Kenny
Position: Forward
Squad No: 10
Carrying the responsibility of getting the goals at the other end, Kenny is tasked with the simplest of roles. However, being a former rugby player, this explains why most of his shots on goal become conversions. While Kenny's main strength is his physical presence, he also possesses great ball-control. However, this goal-threat has a penchant for playing in defence towards the end of a game. Skeptics are unsure if this is a tactical move or there are other darker reasons behind this mystifying switch.
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