Toh towers above all in 3-3 draw

Playing a rare Saturday night match at Tampines SAFRA, ARFC squandered a 2-0 lead before fighting back to draw 3-3 against a very experienced Chinese team, Peh Kio Old Boys, comprising several ex-Singapore Chinese internationals.

ARFC was supported by Shidah and Aqeel, queen and prince of Ismail respectively, and Melissa (Hee’s beau).

Kudos to both Ismail and Haron for turning up to play despite puasa. Great warriors!

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Dependable Jinzhong

Sweeper - Astute-reading sweeper Elvis  

Stopper - Towering Toh  

Left-back - Unpredictable Blackburn

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon  

Right-mid - Marauding Guoxiong

Striker - Talisman Derrick

Striker - Nippy Kenny

Subs:

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron (arrived in 2^nd half)

Powerful Alvin (late)

Weilit (guest player)

Eng Lai (guest player)

YY (guest player)

Absent:

Combative Ron

Unbeatable Darren

Wonder Wayne

Steely Tze Ern

Sublime Khim

Impeccable How Meng

Hard-man Tjioe

Booming Boon

ARFC served notice of its intention to win the match when it launched attacks after attacks in the opening minutes. With just 7 mins gone, Derrick cleverly won a penalty after he was upended by a late tackle. Hee was tasked with the spot-kick but his low shot was saved by their keeper. From the rebound, Derrick could not fire into row ZZZ. Unlucky!

ARFC then deservingly took the lead after a daring foray by Blackburn who dribbled upfield and passed to Derrick just outside the box. Derrick sprayed the ball out wide to Kenny who had pulled out wide. Kenny’s cross as sharp as a needle and Toh outjumped their keeper to plant the ball into the empty net. 1-0 and this was Toh’s 76^th ARFC goal.

ARFC doubled its lead from a quick counter-attack. The ball was passed to Kenny who was lurking at the right midfield area. Both Guoxiong and Derrick made good runs down the right but Kenny had other ideas. Spotting Soon running in from deep down the left, Kenny’s high ball eluded the opponents, leaving Soon facing their keeper alone. Soon mistouched his first kick but fortune favoured the brave as the ball rolled past their keeper. From an acute angle, Soon slotted home his 60^th ARFC goal. 2-0

ARFC then conceded a goal from corner kick to lead 2-1 at half-time.

Ismail then made a stunning save from their corner to preserve ARFC’s lead.

ARFC then conceded 2 goals to trail 2-3.

Haron then came closest to equalize when he smacked a vicious left-foot shot against the cross-bar, nearing breaking it. Unlucky!

After relentless pressure, ARFC finally found a break-through.  Sebastian passed the ball to Toh who stayed up after an ARFC corner. Toh spun and put Derrick through who dashed in from the right flank. Derrick fooled their keeper with a fake shot and smashed the ball in for his 95^th ARFC goal. 3-3

With the goal, Derrick moved to level with Hee on 95 goals.

Credit to Kenny too for his tireless display as he tracked back on several occasions to defend and harass the opponents.

Voting results:

Toh – 10

Soon – 7

Kenny – 5

Derrick – 5

Elvis – 3

Guoxiong – 3

Blackburn – 2

Jinzhong – 2

Ismail – 1