Despite clashing with the Singapore F1 Grand Prix weekend, a total of 77, 777 fans, including Elvis’ babe Anna, still turned up to watch ARFC eased past Essex 2-1 at the magnificent pitch at Tampines SAFRA. The victory also ensured that ARFC remained undefeated at the ground.
Prior to the match, ARFC lost Towering Toh when he was struck down with en eye sore caused by Rob Styles’ awarding of the penalty for the blatant diving antics of the Portugese “slave” in the match against Bravo Bolton. Nevertheless, Toh still turned up to give his support for 37 mins.
ARFC then called up Combative Ron, the hard-man of Kampong Boys, to help out.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Combative Ron
Left-back: Unpredictable Blackburn
Right-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Hardworking Tong
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Striker: Speedy Hee
No subs as only 11 warriors turned up
Not wanting to disappoint the fanatical fans, ARFC quickly stamped its authority in the match and created many many chances but all were wasted, in large part due to their goalkeeper who read our through balls well and smothered many chances.
To sum up the first half, it is almost like in the Liverpool vs Stoke match where ARFC totally dominated.
Though the half ended 0-0, the fans continued to encourage and applaud the warriors as they can see the great play dished out by ARFC. In a way, they know that the goals would come soon.
True enough, within 7 mins of the re-start, ARFC opened the scoring with yet another flawless passing and movement. Khim started the move from the left and dragged the ball inwards towards the centre. When the opponent tried to close him down, Khim passed to Sebastian who lobbed the ball to the left wing where Alvin had already started making his move when Khim had the possession. Breaking clear, Alvin crossed from the left and there was Hee who, well, had already made a speedy run into the penalty spot area and duly swept the ball home for his 56th ARFC goal. This goal had the guest commentator, John Barnes, astonished and he remarked that it was almost identical to a Liverpool goal involving him, Beardsley, Dalglish and Rush in 1989.
Before the opponent could recover from such a well worked-out goal, ARFC struck again. Again and not surprisingly, Khim was the architect. With the ball on the left, Khim advanced in 3 stages of 7 metres all the way up to the edge of the penalty box. Despite much close attention by the opponents, Khim seemed to have the ball stuck to his feet and made a “no-look pass” to release Alvin in the left. Taking up the inviting chance, Alvin fooled their keeper and squeezed the ball into the hear post instead of the far post as normal striker would do for his 67th ARFC goal.
ARFC kept up its relentless pressure and created at least 7 chances but due in large part to poor delivery from Blackburn, those were wasted.
Blackburn also conjured up with the Miss of the Decade when he amazingly side-foot the ball wide when faced with a gaping goal from less than 0.77 metres. Blackburn however had struck the bar from about 37 metres out which again matched up to his nick-name “Unpredictable”.
Soon also blasted high and wide when presented with an open chance.
In the last 15 mins of the match, ARFC warriors were fast tiring and a mistake by Sebastian led to them pulling a goal back. 1-2 which remained the final score.
This was a match where ARFC again played brilliantly and the victory was all the more commendable as there were only 11 warriors with no one to change.
Again, all warriors played exceptionally well but Elvis gets the Man-of-the-Match award for his commanding display in defence. Special mention must also be given to Tong for his tireless running and closing-down, Soon for his Ever-Ready stamina and energy, Guoxiong for his Cafu-like show at right-back, Khim for yet another sublime performance and lastly to Ron for his tigerish performance at stopper where he gave nothing away at all!!!
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