Haron nets ARFC's 1500th goal in 2-1 victory

Playing again on another 1pm match but for the very first time at St. Gabriel’s SS, ARFC shrugged off a rather-insipid first-half display to edge out Brazilian Boys FC (but all Indians and no Brazilians at all) 2-1.

ARFC was supported by Melissa, Hee’s partner. Jinzhong also turned up to watch after his futsal tournament at East Coast.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Talisman Derrick

Right-back - Marauding Guoxiong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Unpredictable Blackburn (captain)

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian  

Centre-mid - Combative Ron

Right-mid - Nippy Kenny

Striker - Speedy Hee

Striker - Powerful Alvin

 

Subs:

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (late)

Talented Chun Haw

Steely Tze Ern

Skillful Weilit

Jiawei (trialist)

Absent:

Resolute Jasper

Composed Jackson

Dynamic Soon

Sublime Khim

Impeccable How Meng

Dependable Jinzhong

Wonder Wayne

Hard-man Tjioe

Booming Boon

Just 77 seconds into the match, ARFC almost went ahead after Ron picked up a poor clearance 37 metres away from their goal. However, Ron fired high and wide.

Thereafter, ARFC strangely was subdued in its play and could not get its engine started at all for the first 20 mins. Thankfully, ARFC’s famed stingy defence, ably led by Elvis held firm

Toh then connected with Blackburn’s corner but failed to garner enough power with his header.

Mins later, Toh again put his head to Sebastian’s corner but glanced wide.

In the 20^th min, Tze Ern and Chun Haw replaced Blackburn and Hee respectively.

Mins later, Jiawei, Haron and Weilit came on for Kenny, Alvin and Sebastian respectively.

The first half ended goalless.

In the second half, ARFC played slightly better and Jiawei was really unlucky with his two shots. Particularly, his second shot looked to be headed to the top right-hand corner but their very big keeper put his left hand to it and touched over for a corner.

Kenny and Alvin then came back on and Kenny as particularly menacing.

Meantime, the opponents threatened with some direct runs at ARFC’s defence but ARFC’s defence gave nothing away.

ARFC finally took the lead in the 67^th min.  Haron received a ball from Chun Haw and then quickly released the ball into the path of the on-rushing Kenny. Kenny’s brilliant first touch took him way past their sweeper, and crashed in a rising cannon ala Thierry Henry that beat their keeper at his near post. 1-0 and this was Kenny’s 22^nd ARFC goal.

ARFC put the result beyond doubt after another piece of great work from Alvin. Alvin received the ball at the middle and released Kenny down the right flank, in an eerily similar move as Haron’s earlier. Kenny ran the ball down the right flank, pulled their keeper out, and squared the ball across goal for the unmarked Haron to steer the ball into the empty net for his 195^th ARFC goal. 2-0

Most significantly, Haron’s goal was ARFC’s 1500^th goal in its illustrious 22-year history!!

With 77 seconds to go, ARFC conceded a goal. 2-1

For this match, I want to pay special tribute to ARFC’s defence who really keep ARFC in the match. Probably due to the heavy downpour and cold weather, ARFC could not really get its engine started and also struggled with the ball. Luckily, Elvis and company was there to ensure ARFC’s win.

These are the voting results:

Kenny – 21 pts;

Ron – 20 pts;

Chun Haw – 14 pts;

Guoxiong – 9 pts;

Blackburn – 6 pts;

Derrick & Haron – 5 pts;

Toh – 4 pts;

Elvis, Tze Ern & Darren – 2 pts.

Congratulations to Kenny & Ron for winning $10 and $5 respectively.