Blackburn scores Xabi Alonso-type goal in 5-0 victory

Playing at a sleepy time of 9 pm at Tampines SAFRA, ARFC continued its winning streak with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over a hapless opponent. Witnessing the rampaging win was Anna, Elvis’ beau, as well as the faithful 77,777 fans.


ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Weili (guest keeper)
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong (Captain)
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Hardworking Tong
Right-mid: Mean-machine Hock
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Hardman Tjioe
Striker: Unpredictable Blackburn
Striker: Speedy Hee

Subs are:

Marauding Boon
Sublime Khim
Powerful Alvin


Probably due to the sleepy hour, ARFC could not get its game going in the opening minutes and was nearly embarrassed by the opponents. Thankfully, ARFC’s defence held firm.

ARFC took the lead in the 17th min. Hee’s chipped pass appeared to be mis-hit but the ball was latched on nicely by Tjioe, who reminded everybody that he was once a box-to-box warrior. Tjioe’s touch looked a bit too heavy and the ball seemed to be out of his reach. With their defender closing down, Tjioe executed a sliding shot that hit their defender’s out-stretched leg and the ball spun and looped over their keeper. It was Tjioe’s 46th ARFC goal. 1-0

ARFC doubled its lead 7 mins later. Khim, who came on for Tjioe, picked up a loose ball at the left flank. ARFC’s forwards made a decoy run and pulled their defenders with them, leaving Hock free at the right side Of course, the ever-elegant Khim picked out Hock with a cross-diagonal ball and Hock took the ball down nicely and coolly slotted the ball past their keeper for his 21st ARFC goal. 2-0 which remained the half-time score.

In the 57th min, ARFC scored its 3rd goal in the match. Blackburn, who again put in an impressive showing, sent in a precise corner from the left to the head of who else but Toh to thump his header against the cross-bar. The ball did not cross the line but Toh was fast enough to follow up with another header to send the ball into the net for his 31st ARFC goal. 3-0.

By now, the opponents was gone case. However, ARFC nearly gave them a life-line after Hock was dismissed for retaliation. ARFC was down to 10 men.

Again, ARFC’s spirit, team-work and determination came to the fore again. Blackburn picked up the ball just inside their half and gave a powerful lob that had their back-pedaling keeper grabbing thin air and the ball landed nicely into the net ala Xabi Alonso for his 77th ARFC goal. Really world-class goal. The distance measured was 57.77 metres from goal. 4-0

ARFC was not done as yet and scored the type of “team-work” goal ala Liverpool in the 80s. At least 5 or 6 warriors passed the ball around and the opponents were completely mesmerized by the sweet passing and movement. The final ball landed at the feet of Khim whose shot was parried by their keeper. However, the ball trickled over the line and Khim chalked up his 40th ARFC goal.

For this match, Man-of-the-Match must surely be Khim for his sublime all-round display. I must also say that Guoxiong, Tong and Blackburn came close too.