In line with the EPL’s busy festive programme, ARFC played its 2nd match in 3 days in a friendly match against Holland Park at the magnificent pitch at Tampines SAFRA on the eve of New Year’s eve. ARFC eventually rounded off a good 2008 with an emphatic and resounding 3-0 victory over Holland Park.
ARFC was severely hit with injuries to four warriors, namely Hee, Alvin, Toh and Tjioe. Haron also withdrew at the 11th hour as his gorgeous wife, Su, was sick. Thankfully, ARFC welcomed back Sebastian from his 3 days’ training stint with Thai Farmers’ Bank. Guoxiong also recovered from a flu virus to play and most important of all, Huiming is back for a christmas holiday break from his training attachment with LA Galaxy.
With Huiming’s return, there were additional 7,777 US babes present, in addition to the usual 77,777 fans which included Elvis’ beautiful beau, Anna.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Determined Huiming
Sweeper: Uncompromising Edwin
Stopper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Left-back: Left-foot wizard Bernard
Right-mid: Hard-running Guoxiong
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Centre-mid: Hardworking Tong
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)
There was no sub though Alvin was present but did not play due to his injury.
Bouyed by Liverpool’s fantastic results and Vietnam’s Suzuki Cup triumph, ARFC quickly went on the offensive and craved out a couple of decent chances but were not converted.
In the 17th min, Guoxiong was put through and although he reached the ball first, he was flattened by the on-rushing keeper who was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card. From the resultant free-kick, Sebastian’s effort was saved on the line by their keeper.
7 mins later, Blackburn’s powerful struck free-kick skimmed the cross-bar. Unlucky!
Moments later, Blackburn was put through but was brought down from behind by their last defender who was also lucky to escape with just a caution.
ARFC was not to be denied in the 27th min. Sebastian won possession of the ball in the middle and chipped in a high looping ball for Guoxiong to run in from deep and faced their keeper. Again, Guoxiong’s pace got the better of their keeper, rounded him, and slotted the ball into the empty net for his 6th ARFC goal. 1-0. The goal paid handsome dividends to his decision to play despite illness.
Just 7 mins into the 2nd half, ARFC doubled its lead courtesy of some fantastic over-lapping run by Bernard down the left. Spotting Soon running in from the middle-right, Bernard sent in a delicious cross and it looked like Soon would reach the ball first. However, their covering defender attempted to head back to his keeper but to his horror, his keeper had already charged out and tried to intercept Bernard’s cross. The ball hence rolled into the empty net and it was the 18th own goal conceded to ARFC. 2-0.
By the 57th min mark, many warriors were tiring. Thankfully, player X took over from Guoxiong with Tong moving to the right. Within 7 seconds of coming on, Edwin lofted the ball high over their defence and player X broke the off-side trap. Without breaking his stride, player X leashed the ball over their keeper from almost 37 metres!! World-class goal which Marco Van Basten, Robbie Fowler, Xabi Alonso, Glenn Hoddle and Michel Platini would be proud of!!! 3-0 and it stayed as the final score.
For this match, ARFC put in a very tactical, disciplined and controlled performance. Knowing that it did not have any sub to change, all warriors paced themselves throughout and did not rush their play.
All warriors played well. This time round, the full-backs of Huiming, Bernard and later on Guoxiong gave nothing away and the opposing wingers could not find a way past them at all!! Despite being away for so long, Huiming was able to match the opponents through and through. Bernard put in one of his best display since joining ARFC.
As usual, Jinzhong, Elvis and Edwin were like 3 pillars in defence. Blackburn, as the lone forward, used his experience well and linked up very well with the midfielders.
The midfield of Sebastian, Tong, Soon, Khim and Guoxiong totally dominated the opponents which had no space to move at all. Soon gave his usual Marscherano-type performance, Khim’s skills and craft was unmatched, Guoxiong gave much tenacity and pace to the right side (and later on as left-back), Sebastian’s passing was too much for the opponents.
As for Tong, he is my Man-of-the-Match and reminded ARFC and all the fans what he is and should be capable of!!! ARFC and its fans would surely want to see similar performance from him at tournament matches.
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