Monday, May 18, 2015

Kenny inspired ARFC's come-back triumph over DBS


In the 3rd reunion match this year, ARFC left it late before snatching a 4-3 victory over DBS with virtually the last kick of the match at the Floating Platform.

ARFC was supported by:

S/N
Warrior
Partner
Children
1.
Ismail
-
-
2.
Huiming
Yan Xiu
-
3.
Blackburn
-
-
4.
Jinzhong
-
-
5.
Darren
-
-
6.
Hee
-
-
7.
Tjioe
Sandy
Megan
8.
Sebastian (captain)
-
-
9.
Kenny
-
-
10.
Haron
Suhana
Afiqah and Ariq
11.
Alvin
Irene
Germaine
12.
Eng Lai
-
-
13.
Robin
Sidia
Ernest and Brenda
14.
Wayne
-
-
15.
Khim
Brenda
Dylan and Dylis
16.
Kiat
Josephine
Teajanz and Tiara
17.
Chun Haw
-
-
18.
David
Dora
Marco, Kalea and Asher
19.
Derrick
-
-
20.
Qingxing
Amanda
-

Note:

o   Derrick and Qingxing did not play due to injury.
o   First 11 names are the starting 11.





Probably affected by the sleepy 8 pm kick-off time, ARFC conceded probably its fastest goal when it gave away a controversial penalty within 17 seconds! 0-1

ARFC hit back with a penalty of its own after Kenny’s footwork had their defender totally in knots. Haron converted the resulting penalty for his 222nd ARFC goal and immediately dashed towards his family members for a 9-seconds wet kiss. 1-1

After a few misses, ARFC conceded another break-away goal. 1-2

Eng Lai and Wayne then came on for Blackburn and Jinzhong respectively, with Darren switching to centre back to stabilize things.

Chun Haw then replaced Tjioe, while Khim took over Hee. David also replaced Haron, with Kenny moving to partner Alvin upfront. A while more, Kiat came in for Huiming with David moving to right-back. Alvin was also substituted by Robin

Despite many chances, ARFC could not score and was in fact indebted to Wayne who cleared off the line.

Robin almost scored when he turned away from his marker, made a space for a shot but could not get it in.

Alvin was then cruelly upended by their lunging keeper but the referee only awarded a free-kick though the foul was inside the box.

Kenny then equalized for ARFC after his brilliant curling right-foot shot from 37 metres eluded the diving keeper, struck the right post and nestled nicely into the net for his 51st ARFC goal. 2-2

In the 2nd half, ARFC continued pressing. First, Tjioe just headed wide from Sebastian’s corner on the right.

Then, Chun Haw found Alvin wheeling away to the far post but his precise chip over their defence was glanced wide by Alvin.

ARFC then conceded from another counter-attack to trail for the 3rd time in the match. 2-3

With the minutes ticking away, ARFC did not give up. A long punt was picked up by Alvin at the left. Alvin squeezed his way through to the bye-line and centred a low ball in. Turning back the years when Tjioe was a box-to-box midfielder, Tjioe made a late dash into the box and somehow turned the ball in through their keeper’s grasp. The ball trickled into the net at a speed of 77 metres per hour for his 60th ARFC goal. 

After scoring, Tjioe let out a loud growl that could be heard even at the sky pool at MBS. Naturally, both Sandy and Megan were over the moon at the sight of Tjioe scoring.

The match seemed headed for a draw but Khim had other ideas. With almost the last attack, Khim moved menacingly into the center before cutting the ball to his left with a reverse pas to Alvin. With the opponents appealing for an off-side, their Caucasian defender played Alvin on.  In a swift move, Alvin rifled the ball high into the roof of the net with his trade-mark outside right shot for his 257th ARFC goal.  4-3

From the re-start, Tjioe was sent off for his lunging tackle which almost sparked a free-for-all.

All in all, it was a good match and clearly, all ex-ARFC warriors namely Huiming, David, Eng Lai, Kiat, Robin still had it in them to play for ARFC effectively.


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