ARFC performed a Liverpool-Istanbul-type 2005-performance by coming back to draw 3-3 against a very talented youthful team full of movement and passing after being down 0-3 at half-time.
Prior to kick-off, there was a big uncertainty on whether ARFC could actually field 11 warriors. Fortunately, Khim changed his family dinner to lunch and Derrick also announced his availability to play keeper even though he is still carrying an injury. Hence, kudos to both of them for putting ARFC before self which I think a lot of other warriors can also do the same in future matches.
The match was also full of ARFC supporters like Haron’s babelicious wife Su and lagi-babelicious daughter Afiqah and mother-in-law, Khim’s gorgeous wife Brenda and cute son Dylan, Blackburn’s entire cute family of his wife and 2 jewels, Elvis’ wonderful girlfriend Anna who especially flew in from Vietnam for our match and Guoxiong and his hot girlfriend Tricia.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Speedy Hee (as talisman Derrick was late)
Right-back: Influential Sebastian
Sweeper: Uncompromising Edwin
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Left-foot wizard Bernard
Right-mid: Unpredictable Blackburn
Centre-mid: Hardman Tjioe
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: ARFC scoring legend Haron
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Subs: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Talisman Derrick
Before the match, ARFC was warned that the opponent, though young, are decent footballers and it turned out to be very true. However, ARFC was able to contain them and in fact was having the upper hand when Haron twisted his ankle after a challenge by their impressive last man. Elvis then came on to replace Haron, with Blackburn shifting to striker while Sebastian took over the right-mid.
Haron’s departure seemed to have a demoralizing effect on ARFC and through a series of poor defending and comical goal-keeper, was down 0-3!! The score remained this way and the fans’ jaws all dropped to the ground as it was probably the first time that ARFC was down 0-3 at half-time.
In the second half, Derrick came on as keeper with Hee taking over the poor Blackburn at striker.
ARFC was clearly embarrassed by the 0-3 score-line and after a fierce tongue-lashing by Sebastian, all warriors came out determined and with big fire in their bellies. All played with new vigour and vowed to give all fans and supporters a good match.
About 7 mins after the re-start, Tjioe’s persistence paid off when he refused to give up on a seemingly lost cause right at the right edge of their penalty box. His square ball was slid home by Toh who was lurking in the 6-yard box, a goal which was almost similar to Gary Lineker’s goal against Poland in World Cup 1986 (pass from Steve Hodge). This was Toh’s 26th goal which moved him to 10th position in ARFC’s goal-scoring chart.
About 7 mins later, ARFC pulled another goal back. Again, Tjioe was the architect when his cross skimmed off the head of their defender and sailed high over their defence. Alvin too aim, leapt and plant a Miloslav Klose-like header past their keeper for his 55th ARFC goal, thereby enabling him to over-take Sebastian into the 4th position in the goal-scoring chart. 2-3 now.
With the score at 2-3, all ARFC warriors, fans and supporters alike sensed that a 3rd goal was imminent. However, despite a slew of goal-scoring chances, ARFC could not grab the 3rd goal.
In the 77th min, came the equalizing goal. Sebastian’s corner was hit low which cause a melee in the penalty box. The loose ball dropped at the feet of Edwin who was just 0.77 metres away from the goal-line. With his back to goal, Edwin grabbed his debut goal for ARFC when he mimicked Thierry Henry’s goal (think it’s against Spurs or Blackburn) when he back-heeled the ball between his legs for his first-ever ARFC goal. 3-3 now and the whole stadium erupted and many fans were seen with tears rolling down their cheeks, eliciting tears of joy!!
ARFC continued to press in its attempt to secure the winning goal but could not get the 4th goal. In fact, ARFC was nearly punished in the 87th min when the opponent took a venomous shot that looked destined for the goal. Derrick, who was impressive in goal after coming on in the 2nd half, stretched out and showed a strong hand by parrying the ball away, just like what Gary Bailey had been doing in his Man Utd years.
This was a match where ARFC was taught another foot-balling lesson in terms of movement and passing. Also, it taught ARFC never to under-estimate any opponents, be they young or old. Hence, in the space of 2 weeks, ARFC had dealt and learnt to cope with opponents with wide difference in age.
Nevertheless, I’m proud to say that ARFC had displayed its never-say-die attitude and managed to claw draws in both matches after trailing. This attitude is what made Liverpool a great team, and ARFC is a great team.
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