Monday, April 26, 2010

Labour Day special

Dear ARFC warriors,

To celebrate Labour Day, we are playing a friendly match against the DSTA team on:

01 May 2010 (SATURDAY)
5 pm = 1700 hrs
Regent Secondary School (artificial pitch)
I also dun know where and where to park
Bring both colours

Please note it's a SATURDAY match. NOT SUNDAY!!!

Please e-mail Sebastian of your availability

ARFC keep hopes alive of 3rd place in Div I

Report courtesy of Towering Toh (with very minor edits):

Having played to an eventful 1-1 draw when the two teams first met back in Dec 09 where Hee requires 7 stitches for a cut above his left eye and a late equaliser from Alvin, ARFC takes on FC Simpang again and carved out a 2-1 win, marred by some exploding events, again.

The narrow win was witnessed by Anna, Cerine and Tracie, babes of Elvis, Jinzhong, and Guoxiong respectively. Darren’s lovely wife, Pauline and daughter Rachel and Derrick’s son, Rayes, also turned up to support.

ARFC started with this line-up:
GK - Dependable Jinzhong
RB - Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper - Towering Toh
LB - Unbeatable Darren
RM- Chuan
CM - Combative Ron
CM - Hard-man Tjioe
LM - Dynamic Soon
SC - Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)
SC - Tricky Yoong

Sub:
Powerful Alvin
Speedy Hee
Talisman Derrick
Zac (Potential player)

From the first whistle, ARFC was determined to go one better this time round and look for a win over FC Simpang. However, both teams matched up strength for strength and chances were hard to come by. The pace of the game was fast and furious and players started to tire out. Alvin, Hee and Derrick came in for Blackburn, Tjioe and Chuan.

With 15 minutes of time left before half time, Yoong was presented with a golden opportunity to put ARFC one goal up after being put through facing one-on-one with the opponent’s keeper. Yoong tried to push the ball pass the advancing keeper but the ball hit the out-stretched leg of the keeper. Unlucky! Chance gone. HT: 0-0.

Without Influential Sebastian’s half time hair dryer treatment, ARFC adopted a quiet reflective half time break with each player analysing what they have done well and not.

The second half started with Zac coming in on the left wing, Ron with Blackburn in the centre of the park and Derrick on the right. Hee partnered Alvin in attack. This formation seemed to work wonders as within 15 minutes of the restart, ARFC takes the lead courtesy of Hee putting the ball past the keeper off a pass from Alvin who has done well to turn their defender. 1-0 and this was Hee's 79th ARFC goal!

ARFC controlled the game well and off a glorious chip from Darren, Zac was put through on the left. His pace brought him all the way to the keeper and goal but his left foot shot was 15 inches wide. That was to be his only telling contribution as he was exhausted, due to the fact that he has not been playing under such condition for a good 5 years. He was then replaced by Yoong. Chuan came in for Derrick.

Another 15 minutes went past and the exploding event happened. Off a cross, the opponent striker got half a chance to put the score level. However, Jinzhong was quick to react and got down fast to grab the ball from the feet of the striker. The opponent was bundled over in the process and kicked out in frustration. That proved to be the catalyst for a melee that follow up as kicks and punches were thrown, notably from Alvin and Derrick who has ran the full length of the pitch to confront the opponents, minus the corner flag. Luckily, the referee was able to resume order and rightfully sent off the opposing striker who kicked out. Tjioe replaced Hee so that ARFC could control the midfield.

Playing against 10 men, ARFC had a chance to tighten the grip on the win and Soon duly obliged. Off a counter, Soon faced the keeper one on one and side footed the ball past the keeper ala Torres to double ARFC’s advantage. 2-0. This was Soon's 28th ARFC goal.

Instead of building on the advantage, ARFC started to turn complacent and within minutes, the opponent pulled one back. 2-1.

With less than 15 seconds of the game left, more drama was to unfold as Toh was judged to have brought down the advancing striker in the box. Replays showed that the striker has actually dived, knowing that he will not get his chance past Toh and with Jinzhong in goal. Nevertheless, the referee pointed to the spot and the opposing keeper stepped up to take the kick, hoping to repeat his penalty goal in the previous match. However, justice prevailed as his shot sailed wide.

That was the last kick of the game and the referee blew the final whistle to hand ARFC its 5th win of the season. With this win, ARFC also guarantees Div 1 football for another season and at the same time still have a chance to clinch 3rd place in the league.

This was a match where all ARFC warriors did well and play out a hard fought victory. Such victories are sweeter and are why ARFC choose to remain in Div 1 instead of moving to ESPENZ league or Div 4.

Man-of-the-Match goes to Soon for his lung-less running and covering tackles at the defensive end of the field, and for notching in the winning goal at the offensive end. Yoong, Ron, Tjioe, Darren and Guoxiong all did well and deserved special mentions for their solid displays on the field

Monday, April 19, 2010

12th League match details

25 April 2010 (Sun)
5 pm = 1700 hrs
East Spring (not ease-spring) Secondary School
Bring both colours
Opponent is FC Simpang

Pls e-mail Sebastian of your availability.....Thanks.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Elvis extends penalty record in ARFC's narrow cup loss

Taking on Team BI for the 3rd time this season, ARFC took the lead first before losing 1-2 to Team BI, the reigning Div I League champions. The heart-breaking loss was witnessed by Anna, Cerine, Tracie and Irene, babes of Elvis, Jinzhong, Guoxiong and Alvin respectively.

ARFC started with this line-up:

GK - Dependable Jinzhong
RB - Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper - Towering Toh (captain)
LB - Unbeatable Darren
RM - Dynamic Soon
CM - Combative Ron
CM - Influential Sebastian
LM - Tricky Yoong
SC - Powerful Alvin
SC - Speedy Hee

Sub: Unpredictable Blackburn

ARFC was determined to put up a better show than its previous loss to the formidable Team BI. In the 17th min, ARFC took the lead after clever inter-play between Yoong, Alvin and Hee resulted in their defender handling the ball ala John Terry from Hee's flick ball. The referee had the easiest decision to point to the spot. Elvis stepped up and placed the ball to the right of their keeper who got a touch but could only touched the ball on to the post and the ball went in off the post. The goal, Elvis' 12th ARFC goal, also extended his unprecedented 100% penalty-taking record of 5 succesive kicks in as many matches. 1-0

ARFC then conceded a foul and they scored from the direct free-kick. 1-1

ARFC could have regained the lead when Yoong, who had an impressive match, was chopped down near the left by-line. Sebastian, who just had his theraphy session on his yet-to-be-fully-recovered left knee just this morning, floated in a high hanging ball which was missed by their keeper and defenders. Unfortunately, Ron's header rebounded off the cross-bar and was denied his first-ever ARFC goal. Unlucky!!

Team BI then scored again. 1-2

Jinzhong then pulled off 2 world-class saves in succession. First, he brilliantly tipped a fierce shot over the cross-bar and moments later, he got down quickly to block another venomous shot.

Half-time 1-2.

In the 2nd half, Jinzhong produced yet another world-class save after their pacy and tricky winger cut in from the right and unleashed a rising curling shot that looked to end up in the top right-hand corner. Jinzhong flung himself at full-stretch and tipped the ball over. Simply world-class and Singapore legend David Lee would be very proud.

ARFC did not give up and continued pressing for an equaliser. Yoong nearly capped his good performance when he came in from blind side to bring the ball, from Blackburn's right cross, down superbly. However, their keeper was quick off his line to smoother his shot. Unlucky!

Hee and Alvin were then denied after craving out some half-chances.

As the match progressed, the aging ARFC warriors started to tire out and the only available sub situation did not help its cause. Hence, the younger and hence fitter Team BI has more of the ball but was unable to pierce through the brilliant ARFC defence of Elvis, Toh, Darren and Guoxiong. Particularly, both full-backs did very well to keep them at bay.

This was a match where ARFC gave Team BI the best fight than its previous matches. Under such trying circumstances, the whole team did very well and Yoong finally showed ARFC fans why he was recruited with his best display for ARFC today from his few matches for ARFC. Soon also showed very acute tactical awareness by sticking to his position. Both forwards also performed well with their constant harassment.

Man-of-the-Match goes to Jinzhong for his 3 world-class saves.

Monday, April 12, 2010

D2D Cup 2nd round match

18 April 2010 (Sun)
5 pm = 1700 hrs
Anderson SS at AMK
Opponent is Team BI
Please bring along both jerseys.

Please e-mail to Sebastian your availability. Thanks.

Demon-possessed Hee powered ARFC to thumping 12-0 win

Playing like a demon possessed, captain of the day Hee scored ARFC’s fastest goal in its history and a total of 5 goals to propel ARFC to a thumping 12-0 victory against Eng Lai’s team at the poor Bedok South SS pitch. The emphatic victory was witnessed by Anna (Elvis’ wife) and Cerine (Jinzhong’s potential wife).

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Talisman Derrick
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Hard-man Tjioe
Left-mid: Unpredictable Blackburn
Striker: Speedy Hee (captain)
Striker: Powerful Alvin

Subs:

Influential Sebastian
Combative Ron

The match was just only 11 seconds (no pun intended to Hee’s jersey number) when Hee scored after he swept the ball home from Alvin’s left-wing cross. It was the fastest goal in ARFC’s history and some fans missed the historic feat as they were just streaking into the match venue. 1-0 and it was Hee’s 74th ARFC goal.

About a min later, Derrick’s right wing cross was expertly chested down by Alvin’s bulging chest. Without breaking his stride, he placed the ball away from their keeper for his 118th ARFC goal. 2-0

ARFC went 3-0 up when Hee eluded their defender with a clever turn and dinked the ball over to the far post and the ball nestled nicely at the bottom right corner for his 75th ARFC goal. 3-0

In the 17th min, their defender clumsily handled in the box and Elvis stepped down to create yet another piece of record by scoring his 4th successive penalty in 4th successive match, though the keeper got a touch to his kick but could not prevent Elvis from scoring his 11th ARFC goal. 4-0

At this juncture, Ron and Sebastian replaced Toh and Soon respectively.

Alvin scored his 2nd in the match when Derrick’s right-wing cross found him and Alvin notched his 119th ARFC goal. 5-0

In the 37th min, Hee, who was clearly inspired by the captaincy, wiggled his way down the right bye-lien and squared the ball across. The waiting Sebastian gleefully half-volleyed the ball past their keeper for his 73rd ARFC goal. 6-0

In the 2nd half, Toh replaced Elvis to give the latter a well-deserved rest.

The half was just 2 mins old when Toh’s superb high long ball saw Alvin at the left side of the penalty box. Alvin touched the ball up into the 6-yard area and Hee again demonstrated his world-renowned speed by sprinting into the box and out-jumped their keeper and headed the ball past him for his hat-trick and 76th ARFC goal. 7-0

ARFC went 8 goals up when Derrick was upended in the penalty box. Derrick dusted himself up and scored his 25th ARFC goal, though like Elvis before, their keeper got a touch to Derrick’s kick but was unable to keep out the shot. 8-0

Guoxiong then sent in a great direct ball to Hee from his right-back position and with a quick swivel, Hee’s shot, though not so well-struck, went in through the keeper’s legs for his 77th ARFC goal. 9-0 now.

Sebastian then attempted a one-two with Alvin but the latter’s return ball was over-hit. No matter, as the ball found its way to Hee who shot past their keeper for his 5th goal in the match. 10-0 and it was Hee’s 78th ARFC goal.

Sebastian’s “no-look” through pass saw Tjioe breaking down the right flank. Moving the ball inwards, Tjioe thundered the ball past the keeper for his 55th ARFC goal. The goal, however, came with a price as Tjioe aggravated his already-weak right knee and had to be replaced by Soon. 11-0

The icing on the cake came from Blackburn who scored the goal of the match. He juggled the ball in the air past at least 5 or 6 defenders before lifting the ball past their keeper for his 87th ARFC goal. The ball must have stayed in the air for at least 7 seconds and it was really like a Pele goal. 12-0

This was clearly an one-sided match and almost every ARFC could have scored (except Jinzhong). Toh was really unlucky with 2 or 3 wonderful opportunities, Soon came close twice, Ron once, and both Guoxiong and Darren produced several wonderful over-lapping runs down the flanks. It was also good that ARFC kept a clean sheet. Also, credit must be accorded to the good attendance.

But the Man-of-the-Match clearly belongs to Hee who wanted the ball all the time and was very incisive with his runs. This must be the best match from him in an ARC jersey.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Friendly match on 11 Apr 10 (Sun)

Dear ARFC warriors,

We are playing a friendly match this sunday and details as follows:

11 Apr 2010 (Sun)
5 pm = 1700 hrs
Bedok South SS
Wear RED

Please e-mail Sebastian of your availability. Thanks.

Saturday, April 03, 2010

ARFC did an Istanbul 2005

Playing on an unusual match day (Saturday), ARFC dished out a Jekyll & Hyde performance to draw 4-4 with Questra Vipers at the Tampines SAFRA pitch. Witnessing the extremely entertaining match were Anna (Elvis’ wife), Lingzhi (Ron’s wife), Ziling (Andrew’s girlfriend) and Brendon.

Special mention to Guoxiong for closing his telco shop for the match and thereby forgoing $7,777 in daily sales. Tjioe also postponed his eye surgery to take the match. Tong also came out from his hiatus to play.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Battling Andrew
Right-back: Hard-running Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Nippy Kenny
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Combative Ron (captain)
Left-mid: Yoong
Striker: Unpredictable Blackburn
Striker: Powerful Alvin


Subs:

Talisman Derrick
Hard-man Tjioe
Influential Sebastian
Sublime Khim
Hardworking Tong
ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

ARFC totally could not get its match going in the 1st half. The Vipers also play a fast-tempo match with its incessant pressing and were always first to any balls. The match was only mins old when stand-in keeper Andrew, who is usually the striker, fumbled a ball and gave them the lead. 0-1

ARFC did not panic and tried to kick-start its engine. In the 17th min, Yoong did very well to fire in a first-time left-foot volley which was blocked. The loose ball fell back to him and his cross-shot was handled by their defender for a penalty. Elvis stepped up and easily dispatched the ball past their keeper for his 9th ARFC goal. With this penalty, Elvis also became the 1st-ever ARFC warriors to score a penalty in 3 successive matches. 1-1

Vipers’ impressive right-winger, who gave Darren a torrid time throughout in the 1st half, then scored with a world-class volley that dipped in for a 2-1 lead.

Elvis then scored an own goal after being put under pressure. 1-3

Tong then conceded a penalty but their keeper fired high into row Z. 1-3.

ARFC looked dead and buried when yet another mis-comm between Andrew and Elvis resulted in them nipping the ball into the empty net. 1-4.

The turning point of the match came just before half-time. From a cross from the left, Vipers connected and the ball looked to have found its way into the bottom right-hand corner. Andrew then redeemed himself by producing a full-length save ala Pepe Reina, to parry the ball away. 1-4.

Not wanting to let its supporters down, ARFC came out firing in the 2nd half. Within a space of 10 mins, ARFC must have created at least 4 to 5 good chances but all were squandered. Alvin came close twice, Toh headed over and Kenny was unlucky too.

ARFC pulled a goal back in the 57th min. A good wall-passes between Andrew and Haron saw Soon dashing in down the left. Seeing their keeper had sprung out from his line, Soon lofted the ball over him for his 27th ARFC goal. 2-4 now.

Toh’s header from Alvin’s corner bounced off the floor and over the cross-bar. Unlucky!!

Kenny, who had an impressive match, then sprinted clear down the right. With Haron running into the box, Kenny chose to fire high. However, the eagle-eyed spotted that Haron was unfairly upended by their defender and awarded another penalty. Elvis stepped again but his shot was saved by their keeper. Thankfully, the rebound fell kindly to him and he slotted home for his 10th ARFC goal. This goal was the exact replica of Wayne Rooney’s recent goal against Liverpool. 3-4 now. After scoring the penalty, Elvis did a Fabregas when he was substituted after being injured in the run-up to the penalty.

ARFC was not roaring and created yet at least another 3 to 4 golden chances but were not taken. ARFC got its long-awaited equalizer when Andrew broke their off-side trap and faced their keeper one-on-one. He lost his footing but his leg was pulled by their keeper thereby giving the referee no choice but to award the 3rd ARFC penalty in the match. As Elvis had already been subbed, Haron stepped up to nonchalantly placed the ball past their keeper for his 157th ARFC goal. 4-4.

ARFC could have snatched the winner right at the death. Guoxiong combined with Kenny and dashed down the right flank ala Glen Johnson. Alvin and Andrew were waiting for the ball and Guoxiong’s square ball was met by Andrew who did not connect fully. As a result, the ball rolled agonizingly wide.

Special mention to all ARFC warriors for turning up as it has been a long long time since the team had so many warriors playing. Also, ARFC did not let its heads dropped after going 1-4 at half-time. Instead, it set about striving for the equalizing goal and show all and sundry that despite being an aging team, ARFC still have what it takes to compete. The determination and spirit in going all out in the 2nd half also bores well for the team.

The whole team did very well but if there is a Man-of-the-Match, I am inclined to jointly give to Kenny and Blackburn.

Special credit to Questra Vipers for its good sportsmanship, the photo-taking after the match and the DVD collage prepared specially for ARFC.

7 cheers to them…..