In a title-deciding league match against Jaw SC, ARFC put up a gallant showing but was not enough to prevent a demoralizing 1-4 defeat in front of a packed 77,777 audience at AMK SS.
ARFC received a huge boost when Jinzhong announced his availability to play keeper. Special credit to Darren for also turning up despite having a big worry hanging over his head on his child’s illness.
ARFC started with this line-up:
Keeper: Dependable Jinzhong
Right-back: Marauding Guoxiong
Sweeper: Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
Stopper: Towering Toh (captain)
Left-back: Unbeatable Darren
Right-mid: Talisman Derrick
Centre-mid: Dynamic Soon
Centre-mid: Hard-man Tjioe
Left-mid: Unpredictable Blackburn
Striker: Powerful Alvin
Striker: Speedy Hee
Subs:
Influential Sebastian
ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Talented Chun Haw
Steely Tze Ern (late)
Absent:
Wonder Wayne
Sublime Khim
Long-throw specialist Norman
Combative Ron
Precocious En Dian
Nippy Kenny
It was clear from the start that Jaws SC was the hungrier side and they took shots from distance as and when given the chance. However, the shots were not threatening enough.
ARFC fired the 1st warning shot when Blackburn’s long ball found Derrick lurking on the right. Instinctively, Derrick produced a stinging volley that missed the target narrowly!
Jaws SC’s best chance came in the 7th min when their free-kick bent round the wall and looked to end up in the net. However, Jinzhong had other ideas and he produced a flying diving save to push the ball out for a corner. World-class save ala Edwin van de Sar.
Guoxiong and Derrick were doing fine containing their threat down the left flank with Guoxiong producing several well-timed sliding tackles. Tjioe also chipped in with several great intercepts.
It was also clear that Jaws SC was looking to win penalties when several of their players went down easily in the box despite not being touched by ARFC warriors.
Jinzhong was twice brutally fouled by their forwards but the referee simply kept a blind eye.
Over at the other end, Blackburn conjured up several missile diagonal long balls that were well-received by Alvin but he was always closely shackled by at least 2 defenders as they had already identified Alvin as the danger man.
Hee also did very well in chasing and closing down on the opponents and he caused such a nuisance that he was subjected to a Nigel de Jong-like karate kick against Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final and has 3 stud marks to show on his chest.
Darren’s long throws were also a huge threat but ARFC could not capitalize on them.
ARFC then conceded a goal. 0-1
Tze Ern then replaced the out-of-sorts Soon with Chun Haw and Haron soon in action by taking over from Derrick and Hee respectively.
ARFC fought back and Haron was really unfortunate when his header struck the cross-bar. Sebastian then took over from the combative Tjioe.
ARFC then conceded another goal. 0-2
In the 2nd half, ARFC came out with all guns blazing and Derrick was particularly impressive with his trickery on the right wing.
7 mins into the re-start, Derrick dribbled his way past 2 defenders and he was clumsily brought down by their defender, giving the referee the easiest of decision to award a penalty. Sebastian handed over the penalty-taking duty to Haron who nonchalantly stroked the ball home, sending their keeper the wrong way, for his 176th ARFC goal. 1-2
ARFC was now in ascendency and threatened to find an equalizer. From Sebastian’s corner, the ball was lasered to Haron who looked to score with a header but their keeper just managed to push the ball away.
Alvin again powered his way back the left flank but could not get a nice footing in.
Tragedy struck soon when ARFC conceded a soft goal to give them a 3-1 lead.
ARFC did not allow the set-back to rattle them and from Blackburn’s brilliant long high ball, Hee only managed to produce a weak header that was easily picked up by their keeper.
Tempers began to flare with some ARFC warriors being the more guilty parties. Luckily, credit to both teams for keeping the affected players away from the scenes.
From Sebastian’s reverse ball, Hee found acres of space down the left flank but his first touch was too heavy and the chance was lost.
With almost everyone committing to attack, ARFC was always prone to counter-attack and true enough, ARFC let in another goal. 1-4
Their keeper soon resorted to theatrics and twice sought treatment for “mysterious injuries”. This is really uncalled for and probably the only black spot that spoilt Jaws SC’s performance as Jaws SC had displayed true sportsmanship during the match. For that, they are the deserving winners.
Man-of-the-Match is Blackburn with Hee and Tze Ern coming close. I also want to praise Toh for soldiering on despite nursing a back stomache before and during the match.
Lastly, let’s keep up the good attendance once again.
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