Captain Weilit nets last-grasp winner

Thankful that the rain did not cause the match to be called off, ARFC produced a successive exhilarating 4-3 victory in a friendly match courtesy of a last-grasp winner from birthday boy-cum-captain Weilit.

Despite just playing an energy-sapping match on Friday evening at Jalan Besar Stadium, Sebastian turned up at the 11^th hour. However, he paid the price for being absent for so long and can only be contented with a place on the bench.

ARFC also received another boost when Ron appeared after inking a $7 million clothing deal with Capitaland at Bugis Junction.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper             -           How Meng

Right-back       -           Jasper

Sweeper           -           Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Stoppe             -           Towering Toh

Left-back         -           Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid          -           Weilit (captain)

Centre-mid       -           Hard-man Tjioe  

Centre-mid       -           Dynamic Soon

Right-mid         -           Alonso (guest player)  

Striker              -           Unpredictable Blackburn

Striker              -           Powerful Alvin

 Subs:

Combative Ron

Speedy Hee

Influential Sebastian

Wonder Wayne (late)

Absent:

Steely Tze Ern

Marauding Guoxiong

Sublime Khim 

Dependable Jinzhong

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Mean-machine Hock

Talented Chun Haw

Long-throw specialist Norman

Precocious En Dian

Nippy Kenny

Birthday boy Weilit captained ARFC for the first time but his display was slightly off-colour due to a fever before the match.  

Indeed, all starting ARFC warriors appeared to be affected by the breezy weather and were still "sleeping" when the opponents scored after just 77 seconds on the clock. 0-1

ARFC suffered another scare but How Meng caught the ball with a flying save to his right.

ARFC equalized when Blackburn was fouled outside the box and was awarded a direct free-kick by the impressive referee. Blackburn stepped over the ball and Alvin then curled the ball over and beyond the wall ala Lionel Messi for his 184^th ARFC goal. World-class goal! 1-1

Ron and Hee then replaced Elvis and Alvin respectively. Shortly after, Sebastian came on for Weilit who was clearly feeling the effects of his fever.

ARFC then conceded another soft goal. 1-2

In the 2^nd half, Wayne and Alvin partnered upfront with Blackburn taking a break. Soon also returned in place of Tjioe. Ron also switched to right back, replacing Jasper, with Elvis returning as sweeper.

Things did not improve and ARFC was again indebted to How Meng who produced yet another flying save, this time to his left.

However, ARFC gifted another goal to the opponents. 1-3

How Meng showed the world what a huge potential he has when he conjured 2 saves to keep the score down.

ARFC finally woke up in the 60^th min. First, Alonso, who is a fantastic right winger and a good friend of Sebastian, was clearly tripped near the touchline on the right. From the ensuing penalty, Sebastian drove the ball low to keeper’s right for his 83^rd ARFC goal. 2-3.

Clearly fired up, ARFC was now in the ascendency and constantly broke their off-side traps with many clever runs from deep.

From a Ron’s long direct over-head ball, Alvin gave chase and their keeper looked to have the ball cleared. To their horror, the keeper’s clearance hit Alvin’s bulging chest muscles and wrong-footed him. Alvin then had the easiest task of literally walking the ball into the net for his 185^th ARFC goal. 3-3.

By now, the opponents were “gone-case” and ARFC was clearly very and obviously dominant in the last 20 minutes.

Wayne broke clear but was held back. However, Sebastian’s free-kick was narrowly headed wide by Darren.

Alonso also made at least 2 runs from right but his crosses were overhit.

Soon then latched on to a through ball down the left flank from Blackburn. The ball looked to be heading for a goal-kick but Soon had other ideas and sprinted his way down before crossing with his left foot. Wayne showed incredible technique by deftly lifting the ball over their keeper. Alas, the ball was just 0.77 mm over the bar.

Darren was next to try his luck when he was put clean through. With Hee, Alvin, Alonso and Tjioe waiting in the box, Darren took the decision to fire in a stiff grounder at keeper’s near post which was turned away for a corner. Critics like Shebby Singh and R. Sasikumar would say that Darren should have passed the ball but in my opinion, Darren is entirely entitled to try a shot since it is rare that he had such an opportunity.

Blackburn then dribbled his way all the way from the left to the right but his hesitation resulted in a clearance from the opponents.

After several near-misses, ARFC made the break-through with a last-min goal. Alvin played a delicious ball down the right and Wayne showed superb pace by getting to the ball just right at the right touch-line. With Weilit, Alvin and Hee waiting in the box. Wayne quickly squared the ball across and Weilit took a great first touch before leashing the ball home for his 2^nd ARFC goal. Wonderful team goal! 4-3

Just 77 seconds after the re-start, the referee blew for final whistle.

Man-of-the-Match must be given to How Meng for his several superb saves. Though the same critics (mentioned earlier) would say that he had conceded 3 goals, I can safely say that all 3 goals were not his fault at all and any keeper in the world would also be unable to keep out the 3 goals. 

Alvin and Ron also produced performances that were not far off from the MOM award.