ARFC maintains unbeaten record at Tampines SAFRA after come-from-behind victory

In a Jekyll and Hyde performance, ARFC came from a goal down to brush aside the challenge of a very determined, competitive and experienced team 3-1 at Tampines SAFRA. The victory also ensured that ARFC maintained its unbeaten record at the magnificent ground. The win was witnessed by 77,777 fans including Haron’s wife and daughter.

Prior to the match, ARFC received a huge boost when Edwin returned from his 7-day stint with Nagoya Grampus Eight, Gary Lineker’s former team in the J-League. Nagoya Grampus Eight had wanted to sign Edwin but was put off by Edwin’s huge wage demands of $77,777 per week. Hence, Edwin would still turn out for ARFC.


ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Weili (guest keeper from Rendezvous FC)
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Uncompromising Edwin (captain)
Left-back: Unpredictable Blackburn n
Right-mid: Speedy Hee
Centre-mid: Hardman Tjioe
Centre-mid: Hardworking Tong
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: ARFC scoring legend Haron
Striker: Powerful Alvin

Subs:

Dependable Jinzhong
Influential Sebastian
Left-foot wizard Bernard


From the word go, ARFC simply could not get into gear at all and played its worst half that any ARFC warrior or fan could ever remember. All in all, ARFC only fired in a shot of worth, courtesy of Khim’s right foot shot which hit the crossbar and bounced out.

Hence, it was no surprise that ARFC conceded a goal though their scorer looked suspiciously off-side.

In the 2nd half, after a tongue-lashing by Sebastian and fans, ARFC woke up and finally played the football that it is renowned for. From the re-start, Alvin kicked off the ball to Sebastian who then turned it to Khim on the inner left. Looking up, Khim chipped in a very delicious ball which looked to be beyond the reach of Haron who had made a run into the penalty box. However, Haron’s stretched out his leg and managed to dink the ball over their on-rushing keeper for his 142nd ARFC goal. 1-1. The goal was so fast that the inept referee even commented that it was the fastest goal he had ever refereed!!

Bouyed by the equalizer, ARFC went for the jugular. 17 mins later, Haron returned the favour to Khim. After a series of wall-pass between the duo, Haron played in Khim who needed no second invitation to put ARFC 2-1 up for his 42nd ARFC goal. 2-1

By now, the opponents were totally deflated and ARFC soon ran the show and the 3rd goal seemed inevitable. True enough in the 77th min, ARFC notched its 3rd goal in the match with some super passing and movement. Jinzhong won the ball on the right, passed to Alvin who then exchanged passes with Haron and Tong before Haron dummied Alvin’s return ball for Tong to run straight at goal. Seeing the keeper had dashed out, Tong pushed the ball beyond his reach but the ball seemed headed out until Alvin dashed in from nowhere to stroke the ball home for his 90th ARFC goal. 3-1

Man-of-the-Match goes to Haron though Khim and Elvis did well too.

Special credit must be given to Jinzhong for playing as a player to accommodate Weili who had graciously agreed to help as Jinzhong was earlier not available.