Monday, October 25, 2010

ARFC melt-down in last 15 mins to lose 1-4

Playing FC Simpang for the 2nd time in the league, ARFC took the lead but self-destructed in the last 15 mins to go down 1-4 at the poor East Spring SS pitch.

ARFC welcomed back Wayne who was out with a shoulder injury suffered after scoring his debut ARFC goal in the 5-1 win over Team Kangtao on 22 Aug 2010. However, he has to be contented with a place on the bench together with his smoke-drink-sex buddy Tjioe.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Chun Haw (talented 14 year-old keeper)
Right-back: Marauding Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis (captain)
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Combative Ron
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Unpredictable Blackburn
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Striker: Speedy Hee

Subs:

Wayne
Hard-man Tjioe

The first half was evenly matched and Hee impressed with his relentless pressure but was unable to score. Alvin also showed his prowess by cutting in from the left but his shot hit the side-netting.

1st-half ended goalless.

In the 2nd half, chances were far and few though ARFC threatened with a couple of corners and free-kicks.

The break-through finally arrived in the 67th min. Tjioe did very well to win a foul right at the edge of their penalty box. Wayne joined their defensive wall and Sebastian steadied himself to take the free-kick. Wayne then broke away, creating a hole in the wall and Sebastian duly obliged by firing in a low shot that went through the hole vacated by Wayne to wrong-foot their keeper who was anticipating a high curling ball. 1-0 and this was Sebastian’s 75th ARFC goal, ¾ to the centurion mark but would probably take another 10 years to reach the 100-goal mark.

Strangely enough and to the huge surprise of the crowd, ARFC conceded 4 goals in the last 15 mins to go down 1-4.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

10th Tournament Match details

24 Oct 2010 ( Sun)
5 pm = 1700 hrs
East Spring Sec Sch

Opponent is FC Simpang

Pls bring both colours and e-mail/SMS Sebastian of your availability.

Thanks a lot

Monday, October 11, 2010

ARFC put in impressive showing in front of potential sponsor

Taking on Holland Park for the 2nd time in its 9th tournament match, ARFC put in their best performance in recent times by posting a comprehensive 4-0 victory, but which could have been more, at Punggol SS.

The match was witnessed by Cerine (beau of Jinzhong), En Dian (injured) and Toni (potential jerseys sponsor).

ARFC received 3 doses of boosts when Soon, Ron and Darren made last-min appearances. Special mention to Soon for turning up even after his morning marathon run.


ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Marauding Guoxiong
Sweeper: Combative Ron
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Long-throw specialist Norman
Centre-mid: Steely Tze Ern
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Unpredictable Blackburn
Striker: Powerful Alvin (captain)
Striker: Speedy Hee

Subs:

Chun Haw (talented 14 year-old keeper)
Dynamic Soon
Talisman Derrick (late)
Minghui (guest player)

ARFC and in particular Cerine suffered a huge heart-ache when Jinzhong lasted only about 7 mins after his right foot was caught in the ground after attempting a clearance. In came Chun Haw to take his place.

In the 17th min, Darren was booked for a very fiery protest against a wrong decision by the otherwise-excellent referee. Just mins later, Darren turned his anger into productive energy when he made a Roberto Carlos-like run down the left bye-line and squared the ball in. Blackburn did very well to dummy the ball to Derrick who had replaced Norman just mins earlier. Derrick rolled the ball back to Alvin juts outside the 6-yard box and the latter duly drove the ball towards goal that bounced off the left post, then the right post before slowly crossing the line for his 132nd ARFC goal. 1-0

Excellent build-up goal.

ARFC only led 1-0 as a couple of chances went awry.

In the 2nd half, it was clear that ARFC would be the winners as it continued to dominate the match. Just 7 mins after the restart, ARFC doubled the lead when Darren won possession at left back, laid the ball to the impressive Minghui who spotted Alvin from inside his own half. Minghui released Alvin who then sped away, looked to have lost the ball to their keeper, but somehow managed to prod the ball past their bewildered keeper for his 133rd ARFC goal. 2-0.

By now, the opponents were deflated and ARFC created chances after chances. Hee had 2 very good opportunities spurned, Derrick’s shot did not carry enough power, and even Toh showed Beckenbauer-like skill when he moved from his stopper position all the way just outside the penalty box but he screwed his shot high and wide.

ARFC’s 3rd goal finally arrived. Picking up a shot, Chun Haw showed great awareness beyond his youthful years when he spotted Alvin at the half-way line. With a great strong kick, the ball flew to Alvin who shrugged off their defender’s challenge and flew down the right flank. Bringing the ball into the penalty box, Alvin was unselfish when he lured their keeper out and squared the ball to the unmarked Blackburn who gleefully placed the ball home into the unguarded net for his 93rd ARFC goal. 3-0

In the 77th min, Blackburn did a Xabi Alonso when he chipped the ball into the net from almost at the half-way line. Though their keeper tried his best to back-pedal and keep the ball out, Blackburn’s precision was simply too much for him to handle.4-0 and this was Blackburn’s 94th ARFC goal, just 6 shy of the century mark.

This was a match where every warrior did very well and there was no warrior who disappointed the crowd and sponsor.

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Ron (who did everything right at sweeper) and Alvin (who put in a captain’s display but must watch the off-side more often).

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

9th Tournament Match Details

10 October 2010 (Sun)
3 pm = 1500 hrs
Punggol Sec Sch
Opponent is Holland Park

Pls bring both colours.

Pls e-mail Sebastian of your availability.

Thanks a lot.

Monday, October 04, 2010

Kenny hit double-digit ARFC goals in easy win

As tournament opponent FC Tempestalla pulled out at the 11th hour due to insufficient players, ARFC played a friendly match instead against a social team at Pei Hwa SS in front of 77,777 fans including Anna (Elvis’ beau), Irene (Alvin’s wife) and Tracie, newly-minted wife of Guoxiong.

This was the 1st match for newly-married Guoxiong and hence he was given the honour to captain ARFC for this match.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Chun Haw (talented 14 year-old keeper)
Right-back: Marauding Guoxiong (captain)
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Combative Ron
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Long-throw specialist Norman
Centre-mid: Hardman Tjioe
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Dynamic Soon
Striker: Nippy Kenny
Striker: Unpredictable Blackburn

Subs:

Steely Tze Ern
Powerful Alvin

Straight from kick-off, Kenny unleashed a powerful shot which was picked up by their keeper who was dropped the ball to the ground. The keeper then picked the ball up again and the referee awarded an indirect free-kick right outside the 6-yard box. Unfortunately, Kenny’s venomous thunderbolt was blocked by their wall on the goal-line.

After 7 mins, it became obvious that the opponent was at least 2 or 3 class below ARFC. Kenny and Norman repeatedly found space and Kenny was particularly unlucky when he flashed 2 low drives wide after being put through.

Alvin came on for the ineffective Blackburn and immediately posed problems with his powerful runs and scuffed 2 shots wide.

Sebastian then put Guoxiong, who seemed to have found extra spring in his steps after his recent marriage (maybe got 7 rounds?), through but Guoxiong was hesitant between choosing to shoot himself or square across for the unmarked Alvin. As a result, his shot also went wide.

Tragedy struck in the 27th min when incredibly, they scored after a defensive error. 0-1.

Tze Ern then came on for the injured Ron at stopper and put in an impressive performance as stopper.

After yet another couple of near misses, ARFC finally equalized. Sebastian found Norman galloping down the right flank with an exquisite overhead chip. Looking up, Norman delivered a cross, ala David Beckham, that sailed over their entire defence and keeper and it was so precise that Alvin simply needed to put his forehead to the ball and nod home for his 131st ARFC goal! 1-1

In the 2nd half, ARFC continued its domination and created so many chances that the fans were anticipating a huge win. However, all these chances were spurned by Blackburn, Kenny, Alvin and all.

Particularly heart-breaking moment came in the 67th min. Kenny did very well to speed away down the left flank ala Ryan Giggs and his excellent centre found Alvin right inside the 6-yeard box and about 0.77 metres from the goal-line. Incredulously, Alvin stopped the ball just nice for their keeper to pick it up when a volley would have found the net.

Guoxiong then won a foul about 37 metres away from goal. Sebastian took aim and curled the ball over the wall which looked destined for the top left-hand corner. From nowhere, their keeper showed Peter Schmeichel-like reflexes when he flung himself across goal to tip the ball over for a corner.

ARFC finally made the break-through in the 77th min. Sebastian played a quick short corner to Kenny who tried to hit a shot but was blocked. The rebound fell kindly back to him and he steadied himself before whacked in a high curling shot which the keeper got a touch but was unable to keep out. Wonderful world-class goal which was similar to those type of goals that Matthew Le Tissier used to score. 2-1 and this was Kenny’s 10th ARFC goal.

Man-of-the-Match award is jointly given to Sebastian and Kenny.