In the scorching heat of Singapore with temperatures soaring and no clouds in sight, GAS III faced off against the young local team Bukit Timah CSN for a friendly match. Both teams braved the challenging conditions at Clementi Secondary Town School, with a light breeze offering little relief from the intense heat.

GAS III, under Coach Becker's new 3:4:3 formation, kicked off the game looking to experiment with some fresh tactics. The game quickly became lively when a handball in the Bukit Timah defense led to a penalty for GAS III. Kris Kothen calmly stepped up and converted from the spot to give GAS the lead, making it 1-0.

However, the heat seemed to affect concentration early on, as a false pass from within GAS III's defense allowed Bukit Timah to launch a swift attack, leveling the score at 1-1.

A water break was called as both teams sought respite from the intense weather. Coach Becker took the opportunity to make some changes, trying out new positions and giving players a chance to adjust in the oppressive conditions.

The break worked wonders for GAS III. Philipp Vater, in his debut game, made his mark with a clinical finish after a brilliant pass from Markus. Philipp's first-ever goal for GAS III sent his teammates into celebrations, although it came with the traditional cost—a bucket of beer for his efforts. Bukit Timah had a chance to equalize shortly after when Philipp fouled an opponent in the box, but the resulting penalty soared over the crossbar. Philipp was fortunate enough to avoid the embarrassment of conceding and the expense of a second bucket.

Markus then extended the lead just before halftime with a clever free-kick, slotting the ball under the opponent's wall to make it 3-1. Shortly after, the team's stand-in goalkeeper Samy made a heroic save, tipping a free-kick bound for the top right corner to keep GAS in control.

The second half began sluggishly as the heat bore down on the players, and the game turned scrappy, with both teams struggling to string passes together. After another water break, the conditions only worsened, and it became clear that the heat was taking a toll on both sides. Bukit Timah managed to claw a goal back, capitalizing on a turnover from GAS III to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, disaster struck for GAS III when the opponent striker in a quick reflex trickled the ball into the net beyond the steadfast Samy, leveling the score at 3-3.

In the closing stages, neither team could muster the energy to create any more meaningful chances, and the game fizzled out. Both teams seemed relieved as the final whistle blew, happy to escape the grueling heat with a hard-earned draw.

*Final Score: GAS III 3 - 3 Bukit Timah CSN*
Scorers for GAS III: Kris Kothen (penalty), Philipp V., Markus (free-kick)

Match Report by Thomas C