Inspired by Captain of the day Khim, ARFC wrapped up its tournament with a world-class display which ended in a domineering 6-1 victory over an out-classed Redbacks. Despite the torrential rain and the F1 Grand Prix in Malaysia, the ever-faithful 77,777 fans showed up to lend their support.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Unpredictable Blackburn
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Marauding Boon
Right-mid: Speedy Hee
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: ARFC scoring legend Haron
Striker: Powerful Alvin
No subs as Tjioe, Hock and Bernard pulled out just hours before the match.
Captaining ARFC for the very first time, Khim did a “Captain Marvel” when after just 77 seconds, he weaved his way from the left, cut in and left a few defenders in their wake. Urged on by both ARFC fans and warriors, Khim leashed in a shot that their keeper had no way to keep out at all. This was Khim’s 41st ARFC goal. 1-0
7 mins later, Hee once again showed the world why he is nick-named Speedy Hee when their left-back took a pass from their sweeper. At that time, Hee was at least 17 metres away and the left-back thought he had lots of time. In a flash, Hee ghosted in, robbed him and proceeded to prod the ball past their keeper for his 64th ARFC goal. 2-0.
17 mins later, ARFC scored its 3rd goal in the match. After some near misses from corners, Toh finally headed in Khim’s precise corner from the left for his 32nd ARFC goal. 3-0.
ARFC by now was on fire and just mins later, Haron opened his accounts after picking up a poor goal-kick by their keeper. Haron advanced and his shot easily eluded the keeper and defenders. The ball hit the left post but unlike Torres’ miss the night before Fulham, Haron’s shot bounced in off the post for his 140th ARFC goal. 4-0
Alvin then helped himself to his 89th ARFC goal after a very classic slide-rule diagonal pass from Haron. With his pedigree, Alvin could not miss and he duly obliged. 5-0.
ARFC was not done. Again, Hee showed his out-of-this-world speed when he again robbed their left-back and whipped in a cross which was met by Haron’s super diving header ala Oliver Bierhoff for his 141st ARFC goal. 6-0
In the second half, ARFC shifted at least 2 gears down and the opponents managed to pull a goal back. 6-1 is the final score.
This is one match where ARFC totally annihilated the hapless opponents with its superb passing, movement, control and finishing. Every warrior did well and hence it would be unfair to give an individual Man-of-the-Match. Instead, the award goes out to the team. However, I must say that Khim, Haron, Toh, Hee, Boon and Guoxiong did extremely well.
Special credit must be given to Boon for lasting the whole match!!!
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