Despite dropping to the lowest division in the new D2D League season, 10-warrior ARFC could not start off on a winning note after going down 3-5 to Casanova XI at Ping Yi SS in front of Anna.
Due to the last-min pull-outs of both Chun Haw and Wayne, ARFC could only field 10 warriors which ultimately led to its downfall.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Talisman Derrick
Right-back: Unpredictable Blackburn
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Hard-man Tjioe
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Left-mid: Steely Tze Ern
Striker: Powerful Alvin (captain)
Absent:
Talented Chun Haw
Long-throw specialist Norman
Combative Ron
Marauding Guoxiong
Dependable Jinzhong
Sublime Khim
Wonder Wayne
ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Speedy Hee
Precocious En Dian
Nippy Kenny
ARFC got off to a good start when Alvin wriggled his way down the left touch-line. Hearing a call from Soon who was running in from the right, Alvin squared the ball across goal and under pressure from Soon, their defender slide the ball home for an own goal. 1-0 and this was the 27th own goal gifted by ARFC’s opponents.
However, ARFC inexplicably conceded 2 quick goals to trail 1-2.
Derrick then gave away a clear penalty but to his credit, he saved the spot-kick to keep ARFC in the match.
ARFC conjured up several chances but was unable to capitalize with Sebastian and Soon the chief culprits.
Tjioe then took over Derrick’s position as keeper for the 2nd half.
In the 2nd half, ARFC conceded another goal. 1-3.
ARFC then pulled a goal back when Sebastian sent in a floated corner which saw the ball hanging in the air. To the crowd’s expectations, Toh came charging in and thumped home yet another header ala Sami Hyypia for his 49th ARFC goal!
Toh’s goal also saw him on level terms with ex-warrior Jeffrey’s 49 goals.
ARFC then conceded another goal 2-4.
Responding, Sebastian executed a Xabi Alonso-like ball by chipping in a laser-like high through ball to Alvin who broke through, held off their covering defender before firing past their keeper for his 153rd ARFC goal! 3-4
ARFC threatened to equalize with Toh, Derrick and Soon coming real close with their headers. ARFC also saw several chances clawed away by their keeper.
ARFC then conceded another goal from a counter-attack to trail 3-5.
Despite mounting waves after waves of aerial bombardments from Darren’s Rory Delap-like throw-ins and Sebastian’s Jamie Redknapp-like high balls from dead-ball situations, ARFC could not rescue the match and lost 3-5.
This is the match where we deserved to lose not because we played badly but simply due to the 10-warrior situation. I hope that our attendance can be better in coming matches.
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