Playing its 6th league match against league leaders Team BI, ARFC missed a spate of great chances to go down 3-4 at XinMin SS in front of its usual supporters, Anna, Tracie, Cerine and Lingzhi, WAGs of Elvis, Guoxiong, Jinzhong and Ron respectively. With this loss, ARFC suffered its first league defeat of the season.
ARFC started with this line-up:
GK - Dependable Jinzhong
RB - Hard-running Guoxiong
SW - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
DC - Combative Ron
LB - Unbeatable Darren
CM - Influential Sebastian
CM - Hardman Tjioe
RM - Hardworking Tong
LM - Unpredictable Blackburn
SC - ARFC scoring legend Haron (captain)
SC - Speedy Hee
Subs:
Powerful Alvin
Talisman Derrick
Nippy Kenny
Dynamic Soon
ARFC had a nightmarish start when the match was just mins old. Off a free-kick, ARFC failed to deal with the ball played in and conceded a looping header.
ARFC did not allow this minor setback to affect its play and nearly equalised in the 17th min. Sebastian chipped in a high lobbing ball and in came Guoxiong who broke their off-side trap. However, his inexperience in front of goal showed when he hesitated and the chance was lost.
Haron then showed wonderful skill to fool their defender with a juggle but his shot was slightly wide.
Alvin was next to miss after being set up in the box.
ARFC was made to pay for its wastefulness when Team BI scored from a corner as their player was again unchallenged. 0-2.
Captain Haron gave a rousing speech during the half-time break by rallying that ARFC warriors should and must play with pride and showed semangat.
All took heed when play resumed. Within 7 mins, ARFC pulled a goal back. Blackburn did well to control the ball in the box and fired in a shot that was parried by their keeper. Haron reacted quickest to the loose ball by sticking his foot out to roll the ball into the empty net for his 156th ARFC goal. 1-2 now.
Alvin could have equalised but his placed shot hit their keeper's out-stretched foot for a corner.
ARFC then conceded a contentious goal as their scorer appeared to be off-side. 1-3.
ARFC did not give up and continued its relentless assault at their goal. Hee displayed his world-class speed when he outsped their defender despite being at least 10 metres behind. However, his weak shot after sprinting was saved by their keeper.
ARFC scored its 2nd goal in the match after Sebastian's free-kick caused panic in their box. Latching onto the loose ball, Tjioe whipped in a shot that any keeper in the world would not be able to save. 2-3 now and it was Tjioe's 53th ARFC goal.
With ARFC chasing the match, space tend to be aplenty at the back and ARFC conceded a goal from a counter-attack. 2-4.
ARFC was not done. After a quick one-two with Derrick, Soon broke clear at the right flank and sent in a cross that somehow sailed over their keeper ala Ronaldinho's goal against England in 2002 World Cup. 3-4 and it was Soon's 25th ARFC goal.
This was a match that ARFC was really unlucky to lose. Though Team BI had more of the ball and even hit the bar in the 2nd half from a corner, ARFC had the better scoring chances. On a better day, Alvin could have scored 2 goals in the match. In all honesty, a draw would have been a fairer result.
Despite the loss, ARFC could walked away with its heads held high and all warriors did very well. Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Ron, Tjioe and Soon.
Credit must be given to Team BI for being a sporting team, especially when Jinzhong was injured on the stroke of half-time. Without delay, their players and even their very friendly team manager came over and helped attend to our injured keeper. Good footballing team with great sportsmanship....
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