Sunday, September 20, 2009

ARFC seals 2nd position in league after win

In its penultimate league match, ARFC easily dismissed the challenge of 442 FC with a score of 4-2 at the artificial pitch at Orchid Park in front of Anna (Elvis’ wife) and Tong’s “boyfriend”.

The venue was packed to the brink after David made his long-awaited appearance in the league and Bernard responded to the SOS call by ARFC to also make his first appearance in the league. Edwin also turned down a ROM event to turn up for the match.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Elegant Edwin
Left-back: Unpredictable Blackburn
Right-mid: Hardworking Tong
Centre-mid: Hardman Tjioe
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Centre-mid: Combative Ron (captain)
Left-mid: Speedy Hee
Striker: Powerful Alvin

Subs:

Reliable David
Left-foot wizard Bernard

ARFC needed a win to seal its runners-up position in the league. Hence, it came out firing on all cylinders with Tjioe nearly finding the net after just 3 mins. However, his powerful shot was parried to safety by their keeper. Unlucky!

Tjioe continued his rich goal-scoring form and was not to be denied 5 mins later. Hee chipped in a superb long diagonal ball to Tjioe who shrugged aside their defender’s challenge, rounded their keeper and whipped home his 49th ARFC goal. One more goal and he would be rewarded with a trophy. 1-0

ARFC doubled its lead 7 mins later. Latching on a poor back-pass after some incessant pressure by Hee and Blackburn, Alvin sped clear and used his outside right foot to thunder the ball past their keeper. The ball hit the cross-bar, bounced downwards but it was very obvious to the whole world that the ball had crossed the line which was spotted by the eagle-eyed referee. 2-0 and it was Alvin’s 103rd ARFC goal.

By now, ARFC had complete grip on the match and the opponents had to resort to some “Uruguay-like” fouls on ARFC warriors to try and stop their flowing football. Nevertheless, ARFC kept cool and was duly rewarded with its 3rd goal in the match.

This time, it was Blackburn’s precise pass which pierced through their defence. Hee show his world-class speed to, well, speed clear and beat their keeper with an expert finish for his 69th ARFC goal, making him level with Robin. 3-0

The half ended 3-0 in ARFC’s favour.

The only setback was Guoxiong’s serious-looking ankle injury which was an old injury. I just checked with Guoxiong and he would be out for at least 7 weeks from football and was also advised to only lie down and enjoyed the sex but no karma-sutra patterns allowed.

When play resumed, ARFC turned very complacent and a shot by the opponent struck the cross-bar. However, ARFC still did not wake up from its slumber and duly conceded 2 goals. 3-2 now.

ARFC settled all doubts in the match in the 67th min. Bernard’s superb ball from the left found Alvin in the box. Chesting the ball down expertly, Alvin laid the ball and in came the on-rushing Blackburn to thump home his 81st ARFC goal. 4-2

By now, the opponent’s left-back went hay-wire and played like one IMH patient by resorting to very rough tackles and some stupid talking. You can only see this kind of antics in the zoo where the monkeys are. Such a player really don’t deserve to play football. He was rightfully sent off near the end after trying to break Tjioe’s legs.

Man-of-the-Match is undoubtedly Tjioe though it can be said that Tong did really well and it was a long time since we see such performance from Tong. Alvin also did very well.

All in all, it was a very good team performance and ARFC was in full control of the match and a win was really totally expected.

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