Taking on Team BI for the 2nd time in the D2D Div II league match, ARFC was real unlucky to come away with a 0-2 loss in front of 277,777 fans at Serangoon SS which included Anna, Elvis’ wife. The huge turnout was not surprising since both teams are the top 2 teams in Div II.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Influential Sebastian
Right-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Combative Ron
Centre-mid: Hardman Tjioe
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (captain)
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Subs:
Uncompromising Edwin
Hardworking Tong
Unpredictable Blackburn
Speedy Hee (late)
Still smarting from a 4-1 defeat in the opening match on this league, ARFC was determined to put things right as too many factors contributed to the loss. ARFC threatened with several half-chances but could not score. Ron and Tjioe also put in hell of a performance in central midfield while Khim and Soon provided craft and worksmanship respectively at the flanks.
ARFC forced several corners and free-kicks and from one free-kick, Sebastian’s ball was powerful but lacked angle which their keeper pushed over for a corner. From the other corners, Toh and Tjioe moved in but their keeper got out to thwart ARFC’s efforts.
Off their first meaningful attack, Team BI opened the scoring from a corner. 0-1.
In the 27th min, Haron and Khim combined brilliantly to set up Alvin but his chip just flew slightly agonizingly over. Unlucky!!
Soon was also put through but his shot was parried by their keeper for yet another corner.
Tong then came on for the tiring Tjioe. Edwin also replaced Alvin to lend height to the attack. Blackburn and Hee took over from Soon and Haron respectively.
Cheered on by the fans who saw that ARFC had played very well, all ARFC warriors came out in the second half with fire in their pot-bellies. Blackburn was impressive with his precise crosses but Edwin failed to connect with his head on 2 occasions. Hee was also causing their defence many many problems with his relentless pressure.
In the 60th min, Haron and Alvin came back on to replace Hee and Edwin respectively. Tjioe also returned in place of Tong and soon, the exhausted Sebastian was replaced by Soon.
ARFC again conjured some half-chances but still could not capitalized and was duly punished when their striker scored. 0-2.
Edwin took over Elvis after the goal and Ron soon pulled out due to pulled calf and was replaced by Sebastian.
In the 77th min, Haron’s nicely-cushioned header fell to Sebastian just outside the box but his shot went wide.
Hee came back on for Blackburn and immediately won 2 fouls with his speed but their same defender was not sent off for the fouls. However, ARFC did not make full use of the free-kicks.
Tjioe nearly pulled a goal back after a dreadful kick from their keeper fell to Tjioe who was at the centre circle area. To everybody’s disappointment, Tjioe’s powerfully-driven return kick went over their keeper, bounced just 0.77 metres in front of the gaping goal, and bounced over! Real real poor luck.
Though Team BI was an extremely tough team to play against, ARFC certainly did not deserve to lose by a 2-goal margin. Perhaps a draw would be a fair result.
Team BI also paid full respect to ARFC before and after the match – word had it that their NFL manager came specially down to the match to guide them for the match. After the match, it was overheard that ARFC was the toughest team that they had played against.
Personally, I feel that ARFC played very, very well despite the loss. No warrior let the team down and all put their hearts and souls into the match.
This is also a match where ARFC lost, yet I am very proud of the performance of the team.
Man-of-the-Match? It has to be Khim although Hee, Ron, Elvis and Tjioe were impressive too.
No comments:
Post a Comment