Playing
against Esperenza again since 15 Jun 2014, when we beat them 2-1 with goals
from Derrick and Guoxiong, ARFC could not repeat its success after going down
0-2.
This
defeat marked the first time since 22 Sep 2013 (when ARFC lost 0-6 to the SAFSA
team at Bedok Camp) that ARFC had failed to score at least a goal in a match, a
feat stretching over 39 matches.
ARFC
was once again supported by Shidah and Aqeel, lovely queen and lively prince of
Ismail, as well as Hee’s woman Melissa.
ARFC
started with this line-up:
Keeper - Commanding
Ismail
Right-back - Impeccable
How Meng
Sweeper - Unpredictable
Blackburn
Stopper - Towering
Toh
Left-back - Unbeatable
Darren
Left-mid - Nippy Kenny
Centre-mid - Marauding
Guoxiong
Centre-mid - Dynamic
Soon
Right-mid - Speedy
Hee
Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Striker - Powerful
Alvin (captain)
Subs:
Talisman
Derrick
Astute-reading
sweeper Elvis (late)
Wonder
Wayne (late)
Absent:
Dependable
Jinzhong
Hard-man Tjioe
Influential
Sebastian
Combative
Ron
Steely Tze Ern
Sublime Khim
Immaculate Indra
Booming
Boon
The game started at a rather cautious pace
as both teams adopted a high pressing game giving each other little space and
time to produce flowing football. ARFC dominated the game though and tried its
luck with some long shots at goal which either went wide, over or to the
keeper.
However, from one such attacking moves, ARFC
nearly took the lead. In the 37th min, Kenny headed a high ball towards Haron
who was nearby. Haron instinctively headed the ball over the onrushing last-man
towards goal where Kenny did not break his stride n brought it forward. With
only the goalkeeper to beat and the ball still bouncing, Kenny unleashed a
powerful volley that rocked the opponent's goalpost and bounced back to play
before finally being cleared by the opponent. Unlucky!
That was the best chance of the first half.
The opponent hardly had a sniff at ARFC's goal especially with Toh being totally
dominant in the air and Blackburn and later Elvis marshaling the backline well.
FIRST HALF: 0 - 0
ARFC started the second half in similar
fashion with everyone trying their best to give ARFC the lead. Toh and How Meng
were dangerous during offensive corners and nearly scored during one of the
many corners ARFC had won in the second half. However, their headers went wide.
Then came the defining moment in the 67th
min. In an attacking move, Derrick lost possession at the right side of the
field. How Meng had went up to offer his support with an overlapping run. The
opponent seized the opportunity by winning the ball from Derrick and played a
neat one two by-passing Elvis who was the last man, before facing Ismail in the
box. Their striker gleefully slotted the ball home with a low tonjol shot to
the far corner. 0-1
The opponent scored yet again about 7 mins
later, after suspiciously beating the off-side trap. 0-2
By now, ARFC made several substitutions and
went for the jugular to find that elusive goal to start their fightback. ARFC
played with a 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 formations which saw them relentlessly attacking
the opponent's goal mouth with shots and attempts at goal.
Soon missed the chance to score when his
wonderful lob over the keeper missed the goal frame by a mere 7mm.
Haron also failed to score when he played a
beautiful one two with Derrick just outside the box and with only the keeper to
beat, he could not control the ball well n shot meekly wide.
Derrick though was the biggest culprit when
he failed to capitalize on two beautiful cut backs by Alvin in the 77th and
87th min. Standing just outside the small box and with only the keeper to beat
Derrick either shot straight at the keeper or had his shot saved. Truly
unlucky. Another key defining moments lost by ARFC which decided its fate.
Derrick's misfortune in front of goal
continued to haunt him because in the last kick of the game, from a corner kick
that was headed downwards towards goal, Derrick unbelievably scooped the ball
over the bar, when standing at a mere 77mm from the goal line.
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