Soon hurt in ARFC's victory

Playing Team Buffalo for the 2nd time in the league, ARFC produced a stunning 17-min blitz to blow Team Buffalo off the park in front of Anna.

Prior to the match, ARFC received a late assistance from Weili, Rendezvous FC’s 1st choice keeper, to keep goal for us.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Weili
Right-back: Combative Ron
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Talisman Derrick
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Left-mid: Steely Tze Ern
Striker: Powerful Alvin (captain)
Striker: ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Subs:

Talented Chun Haw
Unpredictable Blackburn
Wonder Wayne
Speedy Hee (late)
Absent:

Sublime Khim 
Hard-man Tjioe
Dependable Jinzhong
Marauding Guoxiong
Long-throw specialist Norman
Precocious En Dian
Nippy Kenny

Right the start, ARFC did not give its opponents any breathing space at all which is epitomized by the relentless closing down of opponents by Soon and Tze Ern. Darren and Ron also kept their wingers silent throughout.

ARFC opened the scoring after just 2.7 mins. Soon and Derrick combined to harass their midfielder who lost possession. Alvin picked up the loose ball about 37 metres away from their goal and duly unleashed a stunning volley that flew over their keeper for his 156th ARFC goal. 1-0

ARFC doubled its lead after another 177 seconds. Darren’s throw-in from the left, by now a familiar sight that was extremely threatening, saw the ball landed on the feet of Alvin. With a quick turn, Alvin squared the ball across to Haron. Hearing a shout from Derrick on the right, Haron duly dummied the ball and Derrick then took his time to pick his spot to fire past their keeper for his 44th ARFC goal. 2-0

ARFC put the result beyond doubt when their sweeper clumsily clattered onto Haron in the box from a high ball. Sebastian gleefully placed the ball on the penalty spot and calmly sent their keeper the wrong way for his 80th ARFC goal. 3-0 and this goal moved him level with Hee at joint-4th highest scorer for ARFC.

With a comfortable lead, Sebastian then took a decision to rest key players by taking out Darren, Haron and Sebastian and replaced them with Wayne, Blackburn and Chun Haw respectively. Hee then came on for Alvin moments later. With the changes, ARFC lost a bit of flow but still managed to stay on top.

Weili then showed his worth when he conjured a stunning save by tipping a dipping venomous shot over the bar. Fantastic!
In the 2nd half, ARFC continued to pressure but was unable to get a 4th goal. In fact, ARFC nearly conceded a goal but was saved by Weili yet again. From a high ball, both Weili and Wayne came charging out but Wayne headed the ball backwards and the ball looked to loop over Weili. Producing a save that was similar to Gordon Banks’ save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup, Weili arched backwards, stretched out and turned the ball over the bar. Totally world-class save!!!!

From the corner, however, ARFC conceded a goal after their winger was left unmarked in the box. 3-1

Tragedy then struck ARFC when Soon suffered a huge cut above his right eye after an unfortunate heads-on collision. With his exit, ARFC warriors seemed distracted and conceded the play to its opponents.

Nevertheless, ARFC still conjured several chances but Blackburn, Chun Haw and Sebastian could not score.

The first 20 mins was one of the best displays ARFC had ever produced. The flow, movement, passing and harassment was really top-draw.
The only negative aspects were obviously the conceded goal as well as Soon’s injury.

After the match, Derrick, Alvin, Haron and Sebastian accompanied Soon to CGH when he received out-patient treatment.

Man-of-the-Match is obviously Soon though I must say Tze Ern, Darren and Ron came very close.