ARFC in totally undeserving loss

Playing in a 9 pm kick-off friendly match at Tampines SAFRA, ARFC suffered a totally undeserving loss to an experienced team 2-4. Despite the sleepy time, a crowd of 77,777 fans including Anna (Elvis’ beau) and Toh who was there to lend his support.

There was a frantic rush to make a team of 11 as many warriors were unavailable and hence 3 players were called up from Rendezvous FC, namely Weili, Bobby and Sng. Thankfully though, Khim, Edwin and Bernard made unexpected last-minute appearance and Weng Tuck also turned up in the 2nd half. Tong also cancelled his 7 pm just to concentrate playing for ARFC.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Weili
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading Elvis
Stopper: Sng
Left-back: Marauding Boon
Right-mid: Bobby
Centre-mid: Hard-man Tjioe
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Hardworking Tong (captain)
Striker: Uncompromising Edwin
Striker: Speedy Hee


Subs (all late):

Unpredictable Blackburn
Sublime Khim
Left-foot wizard Bernard
Weng Tuck


Despite a rather patch-up team, ARFC wasted no time in pressing for an opening goal with Hee impressing. In the 17th min, however, from their very first attack, the opponents took the lead. 0-1.

ARFC did not lose heart and looked for an equalizer only to be thwarted by opponents’sblocks and poor finishing. In the 27th min, from their second shot, the opponents incredibly scored. 0-2

ARFC again did not let these 2 setbacks affected their play and Blackburn was really unlucky to hit the wood-work. Also, Khim struck the post as well. Their defenders also came up with so many blocks.

In the 37th min, the opponents scored again from their 3rd shot!! 0-3.
Even though at 3 goals down, the fans did not jeer the warriors as they could see that ARFC was in fact playing well. This heartened the warriors and they were all determined to reduce the deficit.

True enough, ARFC pulled a goal back just 7 minutes after the re-start. Sebastian whipped a diagonal cross-field ball from the left to Blackburn who was lurking just outside the penalty box on the right. With a superb first-touch, Blackburn unleashed a shot that was so powerful that before their keeper could see it, the ball was already in the net which was almost burst by Blackburn’s venomous shot. 1-3 and it was Blackburn’s 78th ARFC goal.

ARFC pulled another goal back in the 67th min after Blackburn was felled by their clumsy defender. Sebastian stepped up and his shot was almost saved by their keeper. Thankfully, the ball squirmed under the keeper’s body to nestle nicely into the net for his 69th ARFC goal. This goal also moved him on level ground with Robin, the previous ARFC scoring great. 2-3 now.

By now, ARFC was bombarding the opponents with their clever passing, pressing and movements. The opponents simply had no answer but ARFC was denied by their defenders who all seemed to hustle in the penalty box. In other words, it was like “parking a bus in front of the goal”.

Hee’s superb volley from outside the box also just flashed narrowly over.

In the 77th min, Khim almost equalized after being put through but his shot was faintly touched on by their keeper to the post and the ball bounced out unfortunately. Super suay!!

ARFC poured forward in search of an equaliser in the dying minutes and was caught out from a counter-attack and they scored again. 2-4 is the final score.

This was a match where ARFC played extremely well and yet ended as a losing side. All warriors played fantastically, with the exception of Weili who surprisingly had an off-day.

Man-of-the-Match jointly awarded to Tong and Blackburn.