Playing in its
new jerseys (red set) and at the PSA ground pitch for the very first time, ARFC
struggled in the superbly-large field (almost square shape) but still came away
with a 2-2 draw against a quite strong team, PSA staff team.
ARFC was watched
by Lingzhi, Melissa and Anna, partners of Ron, Hee and Elvis respectively.
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 - Speedy
Hee
Centre-mid - Dynamic
Soon
Centre-mid - Unpredictable
Blackburn
Right-mid - Talisman
Derrick
Striker - Nippy Kenny
Striker - Powerful Alvin (captain)
Subs:
Skillful Weilit
Talented Chun Haw
Combative Ron (late)
Influential
Sebastian (late)
Absent:
Steely Tze Ern
Wonder Wayne
Impeccable How
Meng
Composed Jackson
ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Resolute Jasper
Sublime Khim
Hard-man Tjioe
Booming Boon
ARFC really struggled to come to terms with the huge pitch and was under
siege from the start by the PSA Staff Team, which has been playing at the pitch
every week for many years and obviously knows every inch of the pitch.
Nevertheless, ARFC’s famed defence held very firm and the opponents were
unable to make a break-through.
ARFC took the lead after Chun Haw, after just replaced Kenny at
left-mid, lofted in a brilliant cross-field ball from the left all the way to
Weilit, who replaced Derrick, at the right. Weilit trapped the ball down
expertly but his first ball was poor. However, fortune smiles on Weilit as his
ball was rebounded to him from their defender and he seized the second chance
by slotting the ball low home for his 4th ARFC goal. 1-0.
In the second half, the very impressive Darren voluntarily made way for
Blackburn at left-back and it turned out to be ARFC’s achilles heel as ARFC
conceded the equalizer. 1-1
Almost instantaneously, ARFC regained the lead. Derrick pressured their
defender by closing him down from a long ball. In his haste, their defender
tried to clear the ball but it only went as far as Kenny who was at least 40.77
metres away from goal. Displaying fantastic vision and awareness, Kenny spotted
their keeper way off his line and without even bothered to stop the ball first,
Kenny chipped an audacious ball over their keeper ala Xabi Alonso for his 21st
ARFC goal. 2-1
Kenny’s goal was his 2nd successive goal for ARFC in as many
matches. He also moved ahead of Chun Haw and is now on level position with Hock
and Jiong Jiong, two ex-ARFC warriors.
However, ARFC conceded another goal. 2-2
ARFC then conceded another goal but the referee correctly ruled that
their goal was off-side.
ARFC responded by reinstating Darren at left-back to stabilize the
defence.
In the 67th min, off a counter-attack, Soon released Alvin
who brought the ball down the left flank. Pulling the ball back, Alvin laid to
the on-rushing Hee who looked to add to his ARFC goal tally. Unfortunately,
their defender somehow deflected Hee’s shot out for a corner.
7 mins later, from yet another counter-attack, Soon burst clear and
faced their keeper one-on-one. Unluckily, Soon’s shot hit the upright!
For this match, ARFC’s defence deserved special mention as the home
team clearly exploited the big pitch by stretching ARFC at the flanks. Guoxiong
and Darren ensured that they did not gain significant advantage, while Elvis,
Ron and Toh ensured ARFC’s heart was functioning.
Sometimes, a player’s worth would clearly be seen when they are not in
the pitch. Everybody can see Darren was totally unbeatable at left-back and
when he left, ARFC conceded 2 goals which came in from the left-back position.
The same can be said for Guoxiong. His pace, tackle and tenacity kept
their left-winger quiet most of the match, and when he left the pitch, the
left-winger almost had a field day.
At press time, we are still awaiting the top 3 players choices from
Guoxiong, Soon, Blackburn and Ron.
Rumours had it that all 4 of them are currently still partying away at a
certain Geylang Lor…..
No comments:
Post a Comment