Singapore stronger in the battle of the isles – 05.12.2015

The second day of the World Floorball Championships and everything is ready for a morning battle between Australia and Singapore. Australia started with a calm tempo building their offense slowly.

Singapore’s team stayed in a tight formation and had extreme discipline in their defense. The small, fast players managed to forecheck the ball two times with results. After only 29 seconds played in the first period, Hui Hui Ong scored Singapore’s first goal. Australia controlled the ball but at 2:54 Hui Hui Ong managed to get the ball and didn’t miss the net. At 13:44 Gracia Sengtuvan got a 2 minute penalty for an incorrect hit. Australia got a chance to score on power play, but Singapore survived intact.  Australia’s Jessica Laidler takes a 2 minute penalty at 18:11 for an illegal tackle and Singapore get’s the momentum back. First period ends with a 2-0 lead for Singapore.

The second period started with a high tempo as both teams got more aggressive. On the brake Singapore didn’t seem to have discussed about defending the lead, but to extend it more.  They started with a couple of good shots on Australia’s goal but the Auzzies fought back.
Five minutes played in the second period and the Auzzies took the momentum. They started pressuring and the ball never left Australia’s attacking zone. At 26:05 Jessica Laidler shot the ball suddenly from half court and scored to narrow the lead the score to 2-1. 48 seconds after the first Auzzie goal Yasmin Skene brought them to an even 2-2. Singapore takes a timeout but still shaken from the first two goals scored on them, at 27:10 Jill Roberts buried the ball in Singapore’s net.  The ball was going from end to end and at 33:24 the score was already 4-3 for the Auzzies. Ruby Narita (SIN) and Phoebe Hamilton (AUS) got a taste at scoring too. On the last minute of the second period Kerrie Lamble took a 2 minute penalty for obstruction.

Singapore started the third with a man advantage and took control back to try to even the score. Australia survived the penalty and started to pressure immediately. Relying on counter attacking, Singapore evened the score at 44:27 with Natalie Wee ‘s goal. The game now tied, both teams tried to get the lead with several attempts. At 13:27 Singapore kept shooting and it produced a goal scored by Joscelin Kee.  Jessica Laidler had a couple of good chances but missed the net. The Auzzies didn’t let Singapore get off easy and started to get more and more hungrier for a goal. 55:05 played and they got a power play but Singapore managed to kill it off. Despite Australia’s pressure at the end Singapore finished the game with a 5-4 win over Australia.