ARFC in bizarre 2-8 loss

In Tjioe’s 1^st appearance since our 2^nd Reunion Match early this year, ARFC lost out at key moments to go down to a very-bizarre score-line of 2-8 to the SIA Crew team at the SIA Training Centre artificial pitch.

ARFC was once again supported by Shidah and Aqeel, lovely queen and lively prince of Ismail.

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper - Commanding Ismail

Right-back - Marauding Guoxiong

Sweeper - Combative Ron  

Stopper - Towering Toh  

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left-mid - Speedy Hee

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Centre-mid - Dynamic Soon  

Right-mid - Talisman Derrick

Striker - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Striker - Nippy Kenny

Subs:

Unpredictable Blackburn

Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Dependable Jinzhong

Powerful Alvin

Hard-man Tjioe

Absent:

Impeccable How Meng

Wonder Wayne

Steely Tze Ern

Sublime Khim

Immaculate Indra

Booming Boon

ARFC gifted a soft goal within 17 seconds. 0-1

ARFC was determined to out things right and soon settled down.

ARFC suffered a setback when Guoxiong succumbed to his yet0to-heal knee injury and had to be replaced with Jinzhong.

In the 7^th min, ARFC grabbed an equalizer after Kenny was brought down. From the ensuing free-kick, Sebastian fired in a vicious ball which caused mayhem in the opponents’ box.  Toh reacted fastest to the loose ball and he swept home his 77^th ARFC goal. 1-1

ARFC was in dream-land when it scored its next goal within 77 seconds. This time round, Derrick was upended and Sebastian again stepped up to whip in a venomous ball into the danger area (between penalty spot and 6-yard area). Despite strong pressure by Toh, Derrick and Jinzhong, their defender managed to head the ball away. Hee was at the right place at the right time when he did not even allowed the ball to touch the ground by producing a stupendous volley with a sweetly-struck shot that pierced right through the sea of players in the crowded box. 2-1 and this was Hee’s 97^th ARFC goal.

Then came 2 key-defining moments in the match. From yet another free-kick, Sebastian placed the ball right onto the chest of Derrick who took it down in a world-class technique. Unfortunately, his finish did not commensurate with this ball-trapping technique when he shot meekly at the keeper.

77 seconds later, Derrick was again put clean through but with only the keeper to beat, Derrick again produced a weakling shot that was easily smothered by their keeper.

Alvin then had chance to extend ARFC’s lead when he quickly robbed their defender who had played a quick short free-kick in their half. With Alvin speeding clear and Kenny free on the left, the inept referee incorrectly ruled that their free-kick had yet to be taken. Unlucky!

The opponents then scored 2 goals to lead 3-2 at half-time.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC suffered yet another key moment agony. From Alvin’s delicious corner-kick on the left, Ron rose majestically to plant a looping header to the top corner at the far post. Their short keeper looked to have failed to keep the ball out but Soon was ruled to have blocked him illegally and the goal was chalked out for a foul against Soon. Super unlucky!

The opponents then scored 2 more to lead 5-2.

ARFC again had the shorter end of the stick when it failed to capitalize on yet another key moment. Kenny sprayed a great diagonal ball down the right which saw Derrick sprung their off-side trap and charged towards goal. With their keeper to beat, Derrick squared the ball across goal for Alvin who had come in from deep but his mis-connected pass was picked up by their keeper. Unlucky yet again!

The opponents then scored 3 more goals after ARFC was completely demoralized. 2-8 was the final score.