Derrick reached 60 ARFC goals in rout

Playing on a Saturday for the second time this year, ARFC totally destroyed its opponents 6-3 on the back of an inspiring display from Jackson.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Impeccable How Meng

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Unpredictable Blackburn

Stopper - Composed Jackson  

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon

Centre-mid - Marauding Guoxiong

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Powerful Alvin

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

   

Subs:

Combative Ron

Resolute Jasper

Earl (guest player)

Ah Di (guest player)

Victor (guest player)

Absent:

Hard-man Tjioe

Talented Chun Haw

Skillful Weilit

Wonder Wayne

Towering Toh

Influential Sebastian

Regal Roy

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Nippy Kenny

Sublime Khim

Steely Tze Ern

Mean-machine Hock

Long-throw specialist Norman

Precocious En Dian

ARFC was in total control for the first 20 minutes but could not get an opening goal. The way ARFC was playing, however, it would only be a matter of time before the floodgates were opened.

True enough, the first goal duly arrived in the 25^th min. Alvin fizzed a cross from the right and Derrick attempted a V. Sundram Moorthy’s move (in 1993 against Brunei) by attempting a bicycle-kick. However, Derrick forgot that he can only ride bicycle at East Coast Park with a babe and hence it was no surprise that he missed. Ah Di, who just came in for Soon, latched on the loose ball and shot home his 2^nd ARFC goal. 1-0

7 mins later, a corner from Blackburn created chaos in the box and Earl reacted fastest to poke in his 2^nd ARFC goal. 2-0

77 seconds later, ARFC put the result to bed. Following up on his impressive right-back showing last week, Jasper produced yet another stunning overlapping run and flashed a cross from right. Earl dummied their defender who was fooled and the ball fell kindly to Alvin. Naturally, Alvin gleefully shot home his 197^th ARFC goal. 3-0

The opponents then pulled a goal back when their towering John Hunter striker headed home. 3-1.

7 mins into the restart, ARFC produced the move of the match.  Guoxiong passed to Alvin who held up the ball while Guoxiong galloped down the left flank ala Ryan Giggs. Alvin then backheeled the ball, ala Luis Garcia, that put Guoxiong through. With his left foot, Guoxiong whipped in a cross which saw Haron headed against the cross-bar. Unlucky and the miss meant Haron hit the woodwork for the 2^nd successive match.

7 mins later, Jackson showcased his class when he won the ball in the middle, weaved past 4 defenders and hit a cross-field ball, ala Xabi Alonso and Jamie Redknapp, to Haron who was urking on the right. Haron was adamant not to hit the woodwork again and true enough, he nonchalantly lobbed over their bemused keeper for his 189^th ARFC goal. 4-1

7 mins later, Derrick, as usual, was hacked down outside the box. While the opponents were still arranging the wall, Blackburn showed that his sharp mind when he quickly released Derrick who quickly dusted himself up from the deck. Derrick faced their keeper alone and he simply placed the ball home for his 60^th ARFC goal. 5-1

The opponents then pulled 2 goals back. 5-3.

Alvin then had the last word. From Blackburn’s corner, Alvin connected with his shoulder ala R.Sasikumar’s goal in 1998, for his 198^th ARFC goal. 6-3

Man-of-the-match is given to Jackson who is slowly but surely emerging as a huge talent. The only wish is that he can turn out for ARFC more often.

ARFC also put in a great team display.

Special mention to Soon who came despite having the full marathon later in the same day.