In
one of its most disjointed display ever seen, ARFC conceded a last-grasp goal
to draw 3-3 against Jerry’s team at Tampines SAFRA.
ARFC
was supported by Rayes, Derrick’s son.
Credit
to both Haron and Derrick for volunteering to be GK for each half.
ARFC
started with this line-up:
Keeper - ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
Right-back - Dependable
Jinzhong
Sweeper - Astute-reading
sweeper Elvis
Stopper - Towering
Toh
Left-back - Unbeatable
Darren
Left-mid - Skilful
Weilit
Centre-mid - Combative
Ron
Centre-mid - Influential
Sebastian
Right-mid - Marauding
Guoxiong
Striker - Powerful
Alvin (captain)
Striker - Talisman
Derrick
Subs:
Nippy Kenny
Sublime Khim
Speedy
Hee
Unpredictable
Blackburn
Dynamic
Soon (late)
Steely Tze Ern (late)
Absent:
Wonder
Wayne
Impeccable
How Meng
Commanding
Ismail
Hard-man Tjioe
Immaculate Indra
Booming
Boon
Weilit was rewarded with a first-place spot
after his recent impressive performances.
Strangely enough, ARFC had trouble
controlling the ball on a rather wet surface.
Sebastian was first to try from a free-kick
won by Derrick. However, his placing shot was put too near the centre and their
impressive keeper tipped over for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Toh threatened
but could not get any headway.
Picking up a loose ball from 47 metres out
and seeing their keeper off his line, Sebastian side-footed shot was saved.
ARFC then conceded from a counter-attack.
0-1
Haron then got down sharply to produce a
quick world-class double-save to keep ARFC in the match.
Weilit then justified his first-11 place
when he slalomed his way into the penalty box before being upended. Sebastian
stepped up and sent a waist-high diagonal ball to the keeper’s right and even
with keeper going the right way, the ball still bulged the net. 1-1 and this
was Sebastian’s 95th ARFC goal.
Immediately after scoring, Sebastian was replaced
by Soon.
A slew of substitutions also took place
with all getting a run-out.
ARFC then conceded another goal. 1-2
ARFC equalised for the 2nd time.
From Darren’s long-throw from the left, Toh flicked on and in the goal-mouth
melee, Blackburn poked the ball home for his 142nd ARFC goal. 2-2
Khim then shot wide form just inside the
box.
ARFC then took the lead with almost the
last kick of the half. Blackburn was pushed to the ground and the referee had
the easiest of decisions to award a penalty. Blackburn dusted himself off the
ground and sent their keeper the wrong way for his 143rd ARFC goal.
3-2
In the 2nd half, ARFC totally
dominated proceedings with the opponents getting no shots at all!
ARFC had so many chances that I almost lost
count. From probably the only flowing move, Sebastian swept the ball to
Guoxiong who then sent Hee galloping down the right flank. His low ball across
the box was totally sweet but Haron and Kenny arrived just a wee bit too late.
Weiit then wriggled his way down the left
touch-line but skewed his shot wide when Kenny was open.
Moments later, Kenny swiveled to just miss
the goal by millimeters.
Blackburn then unleashed a high shot from
almost the centre circle but unfortunately, the ball cannoned off the left
post.
With virtually the last kick of the match,
the opponents scored with their only shot in the 2nd half to grab a
3-3 draw.
This was a match where ARFC was totally
complacent and was not mentally prepared. The old adage is really true – if you
do not have the right mentality in approaching a match, then the performance
would really show.
In contrast, the opponents were really
determined in chasing and closing down every ball, especially when we reached
their half.
Voting results:
Weilit – 9
Kenny – 9
Ron – 7
Jinzhong – 4
Blackburn – 4
Guoxiong – 4
Hee – 3
Haron – 3
Khim – 2
Darren – 2
Soon – 1
Tze Ern – 1
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