Sunday, May 31, 2009

ARFC in goalless stalemate with Renaissance

Playing against Renaissance for the 2nd time in 3 weeks, ARFC wasted a hatful of chances to finish goalless in front of 77,777 fans including Anna and Tracie, wives-to-be of Elvis and Guoxiong respectively.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Marauding Boon
Sweeper: Uncompromising Edwin
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Astute-reading Elvis
Right-mid: Hard-running Guoxiong (captain)
Centre-mid: Hardworking Tong
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Unpredictable Blackburn
Striker: Fearless Jeffrey
Striker: Powerful Alvin

Subs (all late):

Dynamic Soon
Speedy Hee
Hardman Tjioe


Observing that Renaissance was a totally different team from the previous match, ARFC reminded itself not to be complacent. True enough, the opponents were an equal match in the 1st half. Credit must go to Guoxiong for blocking a goal-bound shot in the 37th min. Blackburn also took several shots but to no avail.

In the last min of the half, Alvin broke clear right up to the left penalty box but his square ball was poor and caught by their keeper.

In the 2nd half, Edwin conceded a penalty but it was squandered by their midfielder.

Fired up, ARFC wrested control of the match and was really unlucky with several missed chances. Gradually, ARFC’s influence grew with Tjioe, Hee and Jeffrey impressing.

In the 77th min, Hee robbed their left-back and sent in a wonderful cross to the lurking Alvin who was totally free. However, his 1st touch let him and ARFC down and the ball was cleared.

ARFC could have snatched the winner at the dead. Sebastian chipped in a precise and delicious ball over-the-top to Alvin who faced their keeper one-to-one. With the net yearning for him to burst it, Alvin incredibly side-footed wide!!!

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Special mention must be given to ARFC’s defence led admirably by Edwin. Men-of-the-match jointly goes to Toh and Elvis who totally shut out their main striker and right winger.

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