So, after reading about Singapore's bravado in the YOG soccer quarterfinals, demolishing Montogeremy(howtospell) 3-0, and how we have some influential playmaker who connects very well with the striker because they have been playing since young, obviously I did get a little hyped about the whole soccer thing.
So at 8.40PM i plonked in front of my TV and supported the bunch of young boys kicking the ball; OUR bunch of young boys kicking the ball around, expecting to see some wizardry.
The first half was quite entertaining, with some BRILLIANT chances for Singapore.. who promptly missed about 3 OPEN goals. Yes, wide open goal but the receiving player could not head the ball down properly. Maybe it was too high.. maybe he is not used to headers.. maybe because he's only 14? -shrugs.
Whatever the case, I, as the couch soccer critic, is always correct right?
Anyway, in the last 5 minutes of the half, 2 dumb things occured.
Dumb Thing Number 1) For no real reason, after a slight collision in midair between the Singapore goalie and a Haitian striker, the goalie appears riled and steps up into the face of the Haitian to challenge him.
Could have easily been a yellow card for the goalie, but the referee just gives him a warning. Furthermore the goalie's face super cockyarrogant type, so makes him look more dumb and annoying.
Dumb Thing Number 2) After a Singapore substitution, a Haitian player turns past a Singaporean defender and fires a weak shot towards the goalie. Instead of catching it comfortably, he chooses to deflect the ball, even though it was flying straight at him. The ball flew into the oncoming path of a Haitian striker who wasted no time to drill the ball into the goal with his head.
Haiti 1, Singapore 0
Ok so that wasn't what made me make this blog post. It was the second half.
Before we go to that, here is what I believe the Haitian coach told his players in the dressing room during half time:
"Ok guys, good job grabbing that fluke goal despite Singapore dominating most of the first half. Now we have to do what we do best, WASTE TIME. I want every single one of you to waste as much time as possible. Fall to the ground and stay down longer, fake every possible injury as you can from head to toe, be creative!
I want all of you to clock at least 60 seconds each lying on the ground! And you better not let me see any of you run for a throwin/goalkick that is ours. Take your time!
And goalie, if you can do 10 stepovers on the ball before getting carded, I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow!"
So with that motivational speech, the Haitian players went out and DID JUST THAT.
To say the second half was painful to watch is an understatement. It was probably the most frustrating 40 minutes (YOG is only 40 mins a side) of soccer I've watched?
The Haitians were doing everything in the book to waste every second of time possible. Their players started rolling around on the floor after any slight challenge, grabbing random parts of their body and asking for a stretcher... DAMN ANNOYING. Like seriously if i was the paramedics carrying the stretcher i'll just 'oops' -drops player-
they kept this up for the whole entire 40 minutes. I was surprised the referee waited about 20+ minutes before starting to take out the yellow cards.
And the Haitian goalie.. oh wow. It started off with some casual strolling to retrieve a ball for a goalkick. Then on another possession he added a stepover when he was retrieving the ball for a goalkick. Then the last straw was on one occasion when he just casually strolled to get the ball, then on the way back he did multiple stepovers and casually pulled the ball around.
LIKE SERIOUSLY??!?
For that last instance the referee wasted no time running over to show him a yellow card - AND HE SARCASTICALLY APPLAUDED THE REFEREE - wtf??? isn't this an automatic second yellow card and a red? I know in NBA players will get a technical (or a 2nd one) if they applaud in mockery like that.
SRSLY. just book the whole damn haitian team so they will all be ineligible for the finals match and Singapore will go and take their place.
Super ridiculous man. Twitter is ablaze with hateful mean comments towards the Haitians and some are really quite bad.(as you can guess, many are related to the earthquake of course) I am tempted to throw in a couple of my own but.. I shall maintain my niceness. rawr.
K i better get to sleep, 10 hour day tomorrow. nite.
