RMM 4 Sensonic 1

On paper, it looked like a mismatch from every concievable angle. The Sensonic players all looked like they were half the age of RMMers and their matchday squad numbers at almost 30 whilst RMM would settle for 11 these days.

The battle hardened veterans however were relishing the challenge. The monotony of playing the same teams week after week meant that this was unknown territory to RMM and it was just the perfect tonic for the somewhat jaded men.

With lifetime President and resident hardman Guvnor Chen off on a secret scouting mission this week, Iceman took over the reins of the team again and the captain’s 1st eleven this week was a surprise for hardcore RMM followers.

The returning Ah started in goal instead of his customary striker role. This was meant to probably preserve his fitness for the second half as he hasn’t played in weeks.

The backline was also reshuffled. Whilst Snake started on his regular right position, Thong was slotted into the leftback position. Hardman Joe was forced to partner Softman Siyeh in the middle of the backline.

The center of the pitch was decidely lightweight with Iceman partnering Foo. Both were better known for their ball skills rather than battling qualities. On the right, Iceman decided to go with superstar Batigol to utilize his well known speed and the quartet were completed by Red Devil Meng who played on the left midfield position.

Upfront, the long awaited reunion of Mat Burit and the now exiled in goal Shark finally happened.

Even though the Sensonic team was packed with players in their late teens and early twenties, RMM knew from experience that they had a few things to their advantage, namely experience and body strength.

Needless to say, the 1st eleven took sometime to click and the Sensonic boys took full advantage of that, winning a freekick as early as the 3rd minute in similar position to where RMM had conceded a goal from last week.

The Sensonic player then smashed his freekick past the wall and over Ah That’s head. The stand in keeper who was standing in for RMMs regular stand in keeper was caught out of position. This was a complete surprise to all as he had been saving similar shots with consumate ease during warm up.

1 nil to Sensonic and some of the RMM players had not even touched the ball.

If the Sensonic players thought that they were going to rack up a cricket score, they were mistaken. From that point on, their forays into RMMs penalty box became scarce and with Hardman Joe in his hardman mode, he was kicking soon lumps out of players, the pitch and occansionally....the ball.

RMM however were unable to turn their physical strength into any meaningful advantage. Whilst the backline was hard, they weren’t always in control. Snake was also exposed time and again by star man Batigol who was often seen further forward than his forwards.

The midfield of Iceman and Foo were also overwhelmed by sheer numbers in the middle as well. Things weren’t going too well on the left either as Sensonic's tubbiest player playing at rightback back had glided past RMMers imperviously like Franz Beckenbaur on a few occasions.

Upfront, Shark and Mat Burit only showed very slight glimpses of their now forgotten deadly partnership.

It was not to say that RMM played badly. There were many occasions where they could have easily scored an equaliser. Foo who had been put thru by and brilliant backheel by Shark missed a glorious opportunity to score when he was adjudged to have been marginally offside. He had somehow skewed his attempt so far away from the target that he was actually thankful to be called offside.

Minutes later, Shark showed his upper body strength to hold off the attention of a Sensonic defender before unleashing a what can best be described a horribly weak toe poke that rolled towards the keeper. Mat Burit also had his chance when he was played thru by a beautiful hollywood pass by Shark, unfortunately, the now rotund striker had lost his pace of yesteryear.

By now, Iceman had also gotten into the act and had a half volley slightly off target as well.

Halftime came and RMM were visibly frustrated by the scoreline in a game. Iceman rang the changes during halftime and this time and the team had a semblace of the regular RMM lineup.

Ah That then started the second half like a 1 man army. Desparate to make up for his first half mistake, he ran and smashed his way past the Sensonic defence on many occasions. When he wasn’t having the ball, he was busy harrasing the Sensonic defense as well. Speedy also added some guile on the left side of the pitch.

Unfortunately for RMM, the legally blind Phoon had problems locating the ball that is right at his feet on many occasions.

Ah That’s persistance finally paid off when he managed to steer home Foo’s cross from the right. 1 all and all to play for. RMMs experience told them that the next goal will be crucial and the veteran team started turning the screws on the young upstarts.

In a rare foray into the RMM box, Sensonic almost earned a penalty when their striker was crudely brought down by a rusty Zack in what looked like a position inside the box. Fortunately, the confusing lines on the pitch did it’s job and the referee only awared a freekick that was easily cleared by Hardman Joe who was protecting the near post.

RMM then managed 2 miss of the season contenders in quick sucession. First, Foo smacked the ball into row Z from 2 yards after a great turn and shot from Batigol that was brilliantly parried by the Sensonic keeper into his path. Fortunately for the Futsal King, the linesman took pity on him and flagged him offside to save him from further embrassement.

Next, it was Blindman Phoon who missed. If Foo had missed from 2 yards out on the right handside on Sensonics goal, Blindman’s was from an almost identical position of the left. Played thru brililiantly by Mat Burit’s dummy after some great work from Foo on the right, the Blindman skewed his attempt into the corner flag instead.

By this time, RMM was in full control of the game and RMMs 2nd finally arrived from the simplest of moves. Snake’s experimental toe poke goal kick had great yardage and found Ah That inside the opponent’s half. The on fire striker managed to flick his header beyond a very flat Sensonic back four and the ever alert Mat Burit latched on to it like a flash before lobbing the ball over the onrushing Sensonic keeper.

RMM 3rd wasn’t long in coming as the Sensonic visibly wilted under the relentless pressure. Ah That got his brace from a latching on to anothet thru pass from the middle.

By now, RMM was on crusing control and playing exhibition football. The players were stroking the ball around with uptmost confidence and controlling the pace of the game.

RMM then earned a penalty when Ah That’s sudden burst of speed caught the entire Sensonic defence flatfooted with the exception of their Bosnian midfielder. Unfortunately for him, his challenge on Ah That was agricultural to say the least and the sickening thud of his boots smashing into Ah That’s shin can be heard from the nearby KLCC. The Bosnian was issued a straight red by the match official. The incense Sensonic man then refused to leave the pitch and carried on arguing with the officials.

Shark then took advantage of the situation and sprinted a full 80 yards to claim the spot kick. Given that the only action he saw in the second half was flapping a corner kick and mis-cuing a back pass, the team relented and let the stand in keeper have his glory. The giant keeper duly obliged and powered in his spot kick. Not the best placed but powerful enough to beat the keeper.

3 goals up, RMM cruised the rest of the game with little resistance from the shell shocked Sensonic youths. They were taught a football lesson and they knew it.

When the final whislte came, the biggest debate in the RMM camp was on the color of contact lenses Blindman Poon should be getting as the blindman’s insistence on playing without his glasses in fast becoming a handicap (pun intended) for the team…..