Toh scored late winner in dramatic 5-4 win

In a dramatic match againsy Liverland FC, ARFC almost did a "Arsenal against Newcastle" but managed ti snatch a winner right at the dead with a 5-4 victory.

There was a worry on the attendance and hence Minghui was called up as a guest player. However, the worry proved unfounded as Derrick, Khim and Seh Meng made last-min appearances.

Credit also to Soon for turning up to support despite his 9-stitch injury suffered last week.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Marauding Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh
Left-back: Wonder Wayne
Right-mid: Talisman Derrick
Centre-mid: Influential Sebastian
Centre-mid: Talented Chun Haw
Left-mid: Sublime Khim
Striker: Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)
Striker: Speedy Hee

Subs:

Steely Tze Ern
Hard-man Tjioe
Seh Meng
Minghui (guest player)

Absent:

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Powerful Alvin
Dynamic Soon
Unbeatable Darren
Combative Ron
Long-throw specialist Norman
Precocious En Dian
Nippy Kenny
The pitch was really small and more suited for 7–a-side match which affected ARFC more.

ARFC took the lead after a clever pass saw Chun Haw making a late burst into the penalty box. Chun Haw’s touch was excellent as he took it away from the defender who then clumsily brought him down.

Sebastian stepped up and though their keeper nearly got a hand to his low kick, the ball rebounded off the left-hand post into the net. 1-0 and this was Sebastian’s 81st ARFC goal, moving him up to 4th position in ARFC’s leading scorer list.

ARFC doubled its lead with arguably the best movement of the year. From the middle right, Hee received a ball from Khim on the left. Hee then played the ball out to wide left to Blackburn while Khim made a move into the middle area. Blackburn looked up and swung a ball all the way to Derrick who was at the right wing area. Concurrently, Khim was already just at the top of the penalty area with Hee close by. Without breaking the momentum, Derrick side-footed first-time to Khim who expertly chested the ball down, eluded their defender, faced their keeper and calmly dispatched the ball past him for his 48th ARFC goal. 2-0 and really a world-class goal.

With a comfortable two-goal lead, Sebastian replaced Derrick, Guoxiong, Khim and Sebastian with Minghui, Seh Meng, Tjioe and Tze Ern respectively.

Chun Haw then fired wide with a half chance after making space for himself.

Jinzhong then produced a fantastic save when he got dowj quickly to smoother a violent shot.

In the 2nd half, ARFC continued to dominate and did not take long to score its 3rd goal. Khim was fouled and Blackburn and Elvis then stood over the ball. Blackburn faked to shoot and Elvis stepped up to curl a delicious ball over the wall and the ball arched beautifully over their despairing keeper for his 13th ARFC goal! What a set-piece and Elvis ran 70 metres to celebrate the goal and Anna was spotted doing 7 rounds of Mexican waves by herself!

ARFC looked to bury the match when it scored the 4th goal soon after. The ball was played to Blackburn who galloped down the right flank. Derrick then pulled the defender inwards and Sebastian made a late dash into the left penalty box. Hearing a shout, Blackburn cross the ball and Sebastian attempted his “scissor kick” but the kick bounced into outside the 6-yard box and Derrick the popped up to nod the ball home for his 45th ARFC goal! 4-0

Strangely enough, ARFC began to lose focus by getting into unnecessary play and fouls which earned them so many free-kicks. With the small pitch, it was no surprise that they were relying on them to get goals and true enough, they slowly clawed back into the match.

They scored 4 goals in quick succession, with their 4th goal coming at the 79th min, a min before end of regulation time.

With ARFC looking to repeat Arsenal’s infamous feat against Newcastle in last season’s league match, ARFC then launched a last-ditch attack.

Hee won a foul at the left hand side of the box. Sebastian sent his ferocious curling kick that was headed away by their wall for a corner.

Not for the first time, ARFC then looked to the routine yet enormously potent corner move. Sebastian lofted the ball into the penalty area and there was who else but Toh who met the ball with his trusted forehead and thumped home the ball for his 53rd ARFC goal! 5-4

The goal sparked wild celebrations and every warrior outside the pitch took off their jerseys and waved 77 times!
Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Sebastian and Blackburn though Khim came very close.