Match Review: Singapore Football Club vs Hibernians FC

• GK Santino Shepherd
• DF Jahan Rezai
• MD Joe Claridge
• MD Tim Walter
• MD Sam Balls
• ST Liam Shotton
• ST Fazrul Nawaz
• -- Alex Catanescu
• -- Kosei Kuga
• -- Josh Jones
• -- Akil Pompey

• MD John Norfolk
• ST Tom Phillips
• -- Michael Brook
• -- Firaus Hammour
• -- Aidan Wong

Top Quality On Display

SFC met Hibs in a match between two very competitive squads. The first half did not disappoint with both teams putting their opponent under pressure and the quality of each squad shining through quality touches, passes, goals and challenges all over the pitch. It was a very good showcase for Cosmo league football for any passer-by. In the end the clinical attacking play by SFC was the difference on the day with both squads having chances at both ends. Faz was the main man scoring the perfect hattrick with a right foot, left foot and headed goals. There were some great individual performances from both teams on the day with Max from Hibs working tirelessly to press our defenders and midfielders and forcing mistakes. Standout performances from SFC included young Alex Catanescu who continues to impress match after match in midfield and setting up our first goal with a lovely cross. Joe Claridge was also fantastic on the day setting up two goals and finishing one himself. The experienced CM pairing of Sam & Tim were able to get a handle on the match late in the first half and didn’t look back moving the ball around the pitch and pressing Hibs all over the middle of the park. Though not on the scoresheet Liam was instrumental in many of our build ups and attacking play. Well played to Hibs who showed the quality they have in their squad and why they will be a force to be reckoned for years to come.

• Billy Wyatt GK
• Joe Poulton DF
• Oussama Labib DF
• Jack Graham DF
• Julio Vasquez MD
• Will Julius MD
• Misra Maayan MD
• Sergio Moreno ST
• David Bolton ST
• Maxime Dacier ST
• Chaouki Saybi --

• Nick Edwards DF
• Patrick Parkinson DF
• Daniel Martin ST
• Matthew Fenwick --
• Andrew Knott --

Punished

Lovely wet conditions for this one and Hibs started well having much the better of the opening half-hour. Sergio got the opening goal with bundled finish at the back post but Hibs regretted not taking one of their other chances in the opening spell. SFC weren't coping well with the pressure on them in midfield and at the back when they had the ball and two great opportunities came from steals high up the pitch. Max was instrumental in this as always and after he blocked the keeper's clearance, Sergio lifted it wide with the 'keeper stranded. Bolts intercepted a poor pass on the edge of the area but couldn't rearrange his feet in time to score. Sergio should have had a penalty when he was pulled down and even the SFC players couldn't believe that one. Meanwhile, Bill was down to palm a shot round the post and SFC got their leveler with a superb cross from the young man finding a clinical Fazrul at the back post for a tricky header to score. 1-1 HT and despite losing Panda to an injury early and Max struggling with an abdominal injury (which turned out to be a kidney bleed), Hibs were playing well. SFC started to move the ball quicker and with purpose from the start of the second half and Hibs struggled to get going. SFC scored another quality goal with Claridge clipping a beautiful ball between defenders for Nazrul to scoop past Bill. Hibs were then quickly robbed of possession and after keeping Shotton pretty quiet, he crossed and under a lot of pressure, Jack steered it onto the bar and the rebound fell kindly for Fazrul who completed his hat-trick. It was a brutal 10 minutes to start the half. Changes came but Hibs couldn't regain the fluency of the first half in possession and SFC's quality told. They defended well and sniffed out any half chances and got the fourth from the edge of the box, which was bit harsh on Hibs. Hopefully Max recovers well and Panda's injury heals on his travels. MoM goes to Ouss for keeping Shotton pretty quiet and bombing forward. For SFC Fazrul's hat-trick has to earn it.