Haron's pristine double could not give ARFC victory

In a friendly match played under African desert-like temperature at CJC, ARFC could not defend a 2-goal lead and had to settle for a 2-2 draw against the impressive SJI Alumni team.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper             -           Impeccable How Meng

Right-back       -           Composed Jackson

Sweeper           -           Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Stopper             -           Towering Toh  

Left-back         -           Unpredictable Blackburn

Left-mid          -           Speedy Hee  

Centre-mid       -           Combative Ron

Centre-mid       -           Steely Tze Ern  

Centre-mid       -           Marauding Guoxiong

Right-mid         -           Talisman Derrick  

Striker              -           Powerful Alvin

             

Subs:

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Dynamic Soon

Influential Sebastian

Wonder Wayne  

Skillful Weilit

Resolute Jasper

Roy (guest player)

Ah Long (guest player)

Absent:

Nippy Kenny

Hard-man Tjioe

Sublime Khim  

Unbeatable Darren

Dependable Jinzhong

Talented Chun Haw

Mean-machine Hock

Long-throw specialist Norman

Precocious En Dian

ARFC was initially pegged back by the opponents who started the match brightly. However, ARFC’s defence marshaled by the superb Elvis stood firm.

With a lone forward in Alvin, ARFC could not lend sufficient support whenever ARFC is attacking.

In the 20^th min, Haron and Sebastian came in for Hee and Ron respectively.

ARFC took the lead after Alvin was fouled about 27 metres outside the box. Haron signaled his intention to take the direct free-kick and he justified it with a sublime free-kick which he lifted nonchalantly over the wall and nestled nicely into the net. 1-0 and this was his 185^th ARFC goal.

ARFC doubled its lead 7 mins later. The ball was worked from left to Sebastian at the centre who spread the ball out wide right to the over-lapping Jasper. Without breaking his stride, Jasper sent in a high hanging ball ala Gary Neville (at his prime) into the box. The ball was half-cleared by their defence and was picked up by the lurking Haron. Trapping the ball expertly (similar to Matthew Le Tissier), Haron produced a stinging volley that almost bulged the net to beat their despairing keeper. This goal was almost similar to Steven Gerrard’s last-grasp goal in the 2005 FA Cup final against West Ham Utd. 2-0 and this was Haron’s 186^th ARFC goal.

With the brace, Haron is closing in on Alvin (191 goals) and hopefully, both of them will reach 200 goals in the (future) same match!!

In the 2^nd half, ARFC conceded 2 goals in almost quick succession. 2-2

Haron also came close to scoring his hat-trick but his free-kick from 37 metres flew just 0.77 cm wide.

ARFC almost grabbed a late winner when Alvin’s free-kick from the right almost found the head of both Toh (who did not connect) and then Haron who dashed in from the far-side before their keeper push the ball away. Unlucky!

Man-of-the-Match goes to Soon though I must say both Jasper and new-boy Roy did very well too.