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.