ARFC kicked off its league season with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against K-1-K FU at Anderson SS. As usual, 77,777 fans, including Elvis’ beau Anna, turned out to support ARFC. Top UOB Banker Boon also made a surprise appearance after his afternoon nap was disturbed by the whistle-blowing and shouts from both teams.
ARFC welcomed back Elvis and Jinzhong from their injuries. But the surprise of all surprises was when mean-machine Hock finally made his long-awaited appearance for ARFC in its new jerseys.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Uncompromising Edwin
Left-back: Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)
Right-mid: Hardworking Tong
Centre-mid: Hard-man Tjioe
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Striker: ARFC scoring legend Haron
Subs:
Influential Sebastian;
Speedy Hee;
Reliable David;
Versatile Kiat;
Mean-machine Hock
ARFC knew it was in for a tough match when the opponents stroked the ball around and impressed with their balls to their wingers. It took ARFC quite some time to settle down and it was clear that Tong was not match-fit due to his twisted back. Just 10 mins into play, he was replaced by Sebastian.
The opponents continued to penetrate down the flanks especially the right flank where Blackburn struggled against their much-younger and energetic winger. So it was no surprise when they scored their 2 goals with crosses from the left-flank and converted by their forwards. ARFC was down 0-2.
ARFC woke up and gradually found its feet and Khim combined well with Haron to carve out 2 good chances but shot narrowly wide.
7 mins before half-time, David came in for Guoxiong. David’s first contribution was to bring the ball upfield for about 27 metres ala Gary Stevens in his Everton and England days before threading the ball to Haron just outside the penalty box. Haron took a powerful shot which was spilled by their keeper and Alvin quickly followed up. In his haste, their sweeper cleared the ball but only succeeded in clearing the ball against Alvin’s out-stretched foot and the bal; trickled into the net. This was Alvin’s 72nd ARFC goal.
Hock and Kiat then came on for Tjioe and Elvis (injured) respectively.
Half-time 1-2. Hee replaced the ineffective Alvin as the forward.
ARFC’s misery worsened when Haron has to limp out with mins into the second half. Alvin came on and seemed determined to redeem himself after a poor first half.
Indeed, he almost did that when his excellent through ball had Soon facing their keeper alone but he scuffed his shot and their keeper easily saved.
By now and roared on by their fans, ARFC was fired up and went all out in search of the equalizing goal. It duly arrived in the 67th min. ARFC won a free-kick on the left which was taken by Sebastian. The opponents expected him to float the ball into the penalty area but he surprised all by laying the ball into Khim’s path. Killing the ball with his exquisite ball control, KHim spun around and unleashed the ball that sailed high over their stranded keeper and into the net for his 34th ARFC goal. This goal was also ARFC’s 880th goal since its inception and 130th goal in the year 2008.
Gaining in confidence, ARFC’s defence, now superbly marshaled by Edwin and ably supported by Kiat, Blackburn, Guoxiong and David, was giving them no space at all. Tjioe and Tong also provided strong screen in front of them.
ARFC could have won it at the dead. Hee, who had a great game, was fouled and Sebastian took a quick free-kick to Haron who only had to beat their last defender. With a drop of his shoulder, Haron side-stepped him but unfortunately placed his shot just a little bit too high. The whole stadia rose to their feet and you can hear their collective groans all the way from East Coast Park after the miss.
In all fairness, this draw was a fair result for both teams.
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