Playing its 12th league match at the magnificent artificial pitch at Bowen SS, ARFC easily brushed aside the challenge of No Name 3-2 in front of the usual 77,777 fans which include Anna (Elvis’ wife), Reyes (Derrick’s very lovely son) and 2 lady supporters who were there to support Jinzhong.
ARFC welcomed back its precocious right-winger Talisman Derrick after his lengthy absence due to his career-threatening right-knee injury. Thankfully and due to his 777 therapy sessions with some very “effective” pei du ma ma, Derrick looked set to put his injury aside and revived his ARFC career. For this match, however, Derrick has to be contented with a place in the subs bench.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Elegant Edwin
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Right-mid: Unpredictable Blackburn (Captain)
Centre-mid: Hardman Tjioe
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Dynamic Soon
Striker: Speedy Hee
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Subs:
Combative Ron
Hardworking Tong
Talisman Derrick
ARFC started confidently and subjected the opponents to immense pressure though it produced no goal. Looking at the match proceeding, it was a matter of time before ARFC opened the scoring.
The opening goal duly arrived in the 17th min. Edwin’s exquisite chip from inside his own half looked to be cleared by their defender but under pressure from Blackburn, he fumbled. Blackburn needed no second invitation and he expertly lobbed over their keeper for his 80th ARFC goal. 1-0
Midway through the 2nd half, the ineffective strike duo of Alvin and Hee were replaced by Ron and Tong, with Blackburn moving up to lone forward. Tong came in at right mid and Ron formed a midfield threesome with both Tjioe and Sebastian.
Tong played some beautiful one-twos as he looked to regain his confidence while Ron was his usual fiery self.
10 mins before the break, Derrick replaced Soon to rapturous applause. Bouyed by the cheers, Derrick caused their defence some problems with his probing runs.
The first half ended 1-0.
Alvin and Hee came back on in the 2nd half.
Just mins into the half, ARFC doubled its lead. Alvin’s corner looked to be headed to Toh but he misconnect under pressure and the ball fell right in front of the goal. In the ensuing melee, Edwin popped up to sweep in his 7th ARFC goal. Wonderful anticipation. 2-0
At this juncture, ARFC turned complacent and squandered so many chances with Sebastian the chief culprit.
In a crazy spell of 10 mins, the opponents pulled 2 goals back to level 2-2.
ARFC did not panic as it knew that the 3rd goal would come in no time. True enough, it arrived in the 67th min. Blackburn played a beautiful ball to Alvin who held off their challenge and used his super-huge chest to, well, chest the ball down. In came Tjioe, who without breaking his stride, volleyed home that had their keeper beaten all the way. It was a pure world-class build-up and goal and Tjioe’s strike reminded everyone of a certain Paul Scholes. 3-2.
Tjioe is now on 48 goals and 2 shy of receiving a trophy for 50 goals.
ARFC continued to press for a 4th goal but more misses from Sebastian and Hee did not contribute to the cause.
Man-of-the-Match is undoubtedly Edwin who made amends for his penalty shoot-out miss with a superb display as sweeper. Besides creating the 1st goal, he also popped up with ARFC’s 2nd goal. Fantastic!!
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