ARFC in hard-fought 2-1 win over Triple X

In the 2^nd leg match at Anderson Sec Sch against Triple X, ARFC edged past its opponent 2-1 courtesy of an exquisite goal from Alvin.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Dependable Jinzhong

Right-back - Marauding Guoxiong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Stopper - Unbeatable Darren

Left-back - Unpredictable Blackburn

Left-mid - Dynamic Soon

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian  

Centre-mid - Hard-man Tjioe

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Powerful Alvin

Striker - Nippy Kenny

 

Subs:

Towering Toh (late)

Wonder Wayne  (late)

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (late)

Playing for Triple X:

Impeccable How Meng

Skillful Weilit

Resolute Jasper

Roy

Composed Jackson

Talented Chun Haw

Absent:

Steely Tze Ern

Speedy Hee

Combative Ron

Sublime Khim  

Mean-machine Hock

Long-throw specialist Norman

Precocious En Dian

Prior to the match, ARFC received heavenly assistance as the heavy downpour in the morning resulted in very cool weather even though the match was played at 1 pm.

ARFC started off quicker and displayed more urgency and it took ARFC just 7 mins to open the scoring. Tjioe did very well to play the ball out from the left mid area to Soon who then moved the ball upwards into the central area. Soon then executed a slide-rule pass and Kenny broke their offside trap. Their keeper rushed out but Kenny duly rounded him but was then put at an awkward angle. Kenny showed true teamwork when he paused and squared the ball across goal for Derrick who came in from the blind side on the right. Despite their defenders rushing back, Derrick did not panic and poked the ball home for his 59^th ARFC goal. 1-0

With this goal, Derrick moved past Tjioe (at 58 goals) to the 8^th position in ARFC’s goal-scoring chart. However, Derrick is still 5 goals behind Toh’s 7^th position.

Blackburn and Kenny then tried from distance but to no avail.

Tjioe then failed just narrowly to get a clean connection from Sebastian’s laser-like corner.

In the 20^th min, Haron, Wayne and Toh replaced Alvin, Sebastian and Blackburn respectively.

Bad news struck ARFC when Haron lasted about 7 mins after suffering a serious-looking leg injury and was replaced by Sebastian.

Jinzhong then produced a top-draw save to preserve ARFC’s lead.

Over at the other side, Tjioe was tripped by their defender but he stayed on his feet and no penalty was given.

Jinzhong then showed his class when he got down very fast to keep out Chun Haw’s venomous shot with his out-stretched leg. World class save!

In the 2^nd half, Soon’s lifted shot struck the cross-bar. Unlucky!

Derrick was then brought down after one of his many legendary dribbles. From the free-kick, Sebastian’s well-hit shot just flew 0.77mm wide of the stanchion.

Triple X then equalized after their free-kick took a wicked deflection off Elvis and wrong-footed Jinzhong. 1-1

ARFC regained its lead from a quick counter-attack from their corner. Their corner was forced out by ARFC’s defenders and Soon which eventually saw Sebastian nib the ball out from their player to Alvin at the left mid area near half-way line. Alvin spotted their keeper way off the line and he instinctively whacked the ball high over him with his outside right foot. The ball sailed over their keeper and into the empty net for his 193^rd ARFC goal. 2-1

Guoxiong could have put the result to bed when he expertly brought the ball down from a high diagonal cross from the left. In fact, Guoxiong had almost 2.77 seconds after bringing the ball down but he hesitated and shot straight at their keeper. Unlucky!

Triple X nearly snatched a second equalizer but Jinzhong got down very well to smoother their shot. 2-1 is the final score.

Though ARFC won, it paid a heavy price as Haron could be out for a very long time.

Credit must also be given to Triple X which put in a much-improved performance and matched ARFC almost stride for stride but probably lost out to experience.

Man-of-the-Match is given to Jinzhong though Darren and Tjioe did very well.

ARFC in stalemate with Triple X

Playing the 1^st leg against Triple X, ARFC totally dominated the match but could only managed a disappointing 3-3 draw.

Special credit must be accorded to Guoxiong who turned up despite Tracie’s recent birth. Fantastic loyal servant to ARFC!!

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Dependable Jinzhong

Right-back - Marauding Guoxiong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Stopper - Towering Toh  

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Unpredictable Blackburn

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian  

Centre-mid - Combative Ron

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Powerful Alvin

Striker - Speedy Hee

 

Subs:

Dynamic Soon

Steely Tze Ern (late)

Earl (guest player)

Playing for Triple X:

Impeccable How Meng

Skillful Weilit

Resolute Jasper

Roy

Composed Jackson

Talented Chun Haw

Absent:

Nippy Kenny

Hard-man Tjioe

Wonder Wayne

Sublime Khim  

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Mean-machine Hock

Long-throw specialist Norman

Precocious En Dian

ARFC was totally affected by the slippery and muddy pitch and could not make any headway despite bombing Triple X’s goal in the opening 20 mins. All set-pieces takers were having an off-day and at least 5 set-pieces were wasted with poor delivery.

Tze Ern and Soon then came on for Blackburn and Ron respectively.

7 mins later, Sebastian lifted a delicious ball over Triple X’s left-back and Derrick cushioned the ball down expertly, dribbled down the right by-line and squared across goal. The ball eluded all their defenders and keeper and Tze Ern came in from blind side and looked to secure his 7^th ARFC goal. Unfortunately, he was distracted by the slippery surface and just failed to get a clean connection and side-footed the ball wide from 0.77 cm from the goal-line.

Triple X then took the lead after a defensive error. 0-1.

Triple X doubled the lead with yet another defensive error. 0-2 which remained the half-time score.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC came out from the half with all guns blazing and determined to put things right. In the 50^th min, guest player Earl galloped down the right flank and swung in a cross-shot that flew right into the top left corner, giving their keeper absolutely no chance at all. 1-2.

In the 55^th min, Alvin received a brilliant pass from Guoxiong at the left mid and turned his marker. Leaving his marker for dead, the ball rolled nicely to his right and with only their keeper to beat. The whole world was expecting Alvin to finish off the move with a violent shot but before he could trigger, Blackburn came from nowhere, “robbed” the ball off Avin’s feet, brought the ball down the left touchline and fired wide!! Incredible miss!

ARFC was then undone by yet another defensive error. 1-3

To its credit, ARFC did not panic and slowly crawled its way back into the match. In the 65^th min, off yet another Darren’s trade-mark missile throw-in, Tze Ern atoned for his earlier horrendous miss when he headed home for his 7^th ARFC goal. 2-3

With this goal, Tze Ern moved up on level terms with both En Dian and Ron at 7 goals.

ARFC finally grabbed the equalizer in the 75^th min. Earl’s throw-in was flicked on by Derrick and Alvin then leaped the highest like a salmon to head home his 192^nd ARFC goal. 3-3.

In the last 5 mins, ARFC bombarded Triple X’s goal but to no avail.

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Elvis and Guoxiong.

Guoxiong becomes proud father!

Dear ARFC warriors and love ones,

On behalf of ARFC, I would like to extend the heartiest congratulations to Guoxiong for being a first-time proud father!!

His daughter, Clara Ong, arrived into this wonderful country this afternoon weighing 2.945kg....

Guoxiong, his lovely wife Tracie, and even lovelier daughter, are currently "relak relak" at Thomson Medical and will be going home on Saturday....

Last but not least, we look forward to Clara Ong being the successor of Guoxiong's multi-billion telco business 20 years from now.....those who have sons can start taking queue number first......