In a morning match played under scorching sun at Stadia de Braddell, ARFC staged a remarkable comeback from 0-3 down to snatch a 4-4 draw against a young team comprising of mainly Indian players.
ARFC was severely hit with unavailability of many of its first-choice warriors like ARFC scoring legend Haron, sublime Khim, turbo-engine Hock, Kiat Gulam, powerful Alvin an quick-silver Derrick. Coupled with the fact that it was a late morning game and also an ‘away’ game, only about 7,000 fans turned up. Word has it that it was also a silent protest over the non-approval budget of $6969 for a high-tech digital camera.
ARFC started with Jinzhong in goal, astute-reading Elvis as sweeper, determined Huiming as stopper, ever-green Eng Lai as right-back and reliable David Mak (father of Marco) as left-back. Ever-improving Bernard has the unenviable task of taking over sublime Khim’s role as left-midfield, WO Neo took up the right flank, Towering Toh and unpredictable Blackburn as the centre midfielders. Up front, returning British punk Damian was partnered by Speedy Hee. Hardworking Tong and Sebastiano were the only 2 subs.
Clearly unaccustomed by only 7,000 fans and the away pitch, ARFC was soon in disarray. With 17 minutes, ARFC fell behind by 2 goals which were gifted to the opponents as the defence failed to deal with balls sent in properly. Sebastiano immediately rectified the situation by sending in hard-working Tong to stabilize the midfield as unpredictable Blackburn and Towering Toh were clearly struggling. Back to the heart of the defence, Towering Toh was at his best once again. Sebastiano also replaced the impressive WO Neo at right flank, with evergreen Eng Lai being withdrawn to be replaced at right-back by determined Huiming.
With the changes, ARFC began to play the attractive football that its fanatical fans are used to week-in week-out. In the 27th min, off a brilliant cross from the right by hard-working Tong, fast-improving Bernard took aim and unleashed a superb volley that was destined for goal. Alas, the well-struck volley cannoned off their lunging defender and there goes fast-improving Bernard’s chance of his first-ever goal for ARFC.
When the referee blew for half-time, ARFC was booed off the pitch by the traveling fans for trailing by 0-2.
Upset by the booing, ARFC quickly settled down and was determined to play the attractive football. However, tragedy struck just 7 minutes after the re-start. A rare horrendous error by astute-reading Elvis resulted his ball being robbed by the striker who easily shot past Jinzhong despite a last-minutes lung by Towering Toh. 0-3 and the fans began raining toilet rolls, coins, pagers and used condoms onto the pitch.
Barely minutes later, unpredictable delivered a brilliant ball out on the right to WO Neo who took a touch before leashing the ball in expertly to spark the come-back. This was WO Neo’s 42nd goal for ARFC.
7 minutes later, ARFC won an indirect free-kick almost at the right touch-line of the penalty box after their keeper handled a back-pass. Again, unpredictable Blackburn took the kick and aimed at the lurking Sebastiano. However, before the ball could reach Sebastiano, Towering Toh got to the ball first and side-footed the ball home for his 20th goal for ARFC. 2-3 now!!
In the 67th min, their striker scored a superb outside foot shot that looped over Jinzhong. 4-2 and ARFC looked dead and buried!!!
ARFC however did not give up and continued pressing the opponents. Towering Toh nearly scored his 2nd goal in the match but his shot in the box was touched onto the post by their keeper. Returning British punk Damian also had a goal disallowed, while unpredictable Blackburn’s neat header was controversially ruled out for off-side. Dependable David Mak (father of Marco Mak) also found himself very very free in the box but as he took more than 7 seconds to take shot, the ball was cleared by their defender.
In the 77th min, fast-improving Bernard whipped in a cross from the left but the ball was headed out of the box by their tall Indian defender. Unfortunately, the ball fell to Sebastiano who was about 7 metres outside the penalty box. With a great first touch, Sebastiano brought the ball down, took aim and chipped a fantabulous ball in to the top right-hand corner that had the keeper beaten all the way. 3-4 now!!
Sensing a great come-back, the 7,000 fans roared on and on and on and on. In the last minute, the cheering finally brought dividends to ARFC. Unpredictable Blackburn picked up a loose ball on the right flank, looked up and sent in the ball for the lurking Bernard. Again, Bernard looked to have finally open his accounts for ARFC but he was pushed from behind by their clumsy defender, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Damian to coolly dispatched the penalty to the bottom left corner for his 10th goal for ARFC and also capped off an impressive all-round display by him.
Speaking to Charlie Webster of ESPN during the post-match interview, fast-improving Bernard rued the great opportunity to score his first-ever ARFC goal:
“KNN!! I kan suay today. I thought can score from my volley in the 1st half but the F#@$%^ defender dunno come from where and block my volley. I could also have scored in the last-min but the CB defender pushed me to the floor. But, ok lah, at least I won a penalty which salvaged the draw.”
Though ARFC managed to stage a remarkable come-back after going 0-3 down, the draw came with heavy price as Speedy Hee and WO Neo were both hurt in the process and would most likely miss the next match. Speedy Hee has since been sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for treatment where he will be well look after by the PRC and Filipino nurses. WO Neo is not so lucky – he was sent to the military out-patient clinic near the Lim Chu Kang area where he was attended by some “ah-gua” medic.
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