Dominant first-half display set foundation for 5-3 victory

Playing on a Monday night, ARFC brushed aside the determined come-back challenge of the “DSI” team 5-3.

Prior to the match, ARFC has a test-fitting of the new jerseys.

ARFC welcomed back Wayne after his recent surgery. 

ARFC started with this line-up:

Keeper – Dick

Right-back – Composed Eng Lai

Sweeper – Astute-reading sweeper Elvis

Stopper - Towering Toh

Left-back - Unbeatable Darren

Left mid – Steely Tze Ern

Right mid – Marauding Guoxiong

Centre-mid - Influential Sebastian (captain)

Centre-mid – Combative Ron

Striker – Talisman Derrick

Striker – Wonder Wayne  

Subs:

 

Nippy Kenny

Powerful Alvin

Unpredictable Blackburn  

Absent:

Dynamic Soon

Rampaging Raymond

Talented Chun Haw

Vintage Chua

Determined Huiming

Commanding Ismail

Sublime Khim

Speedy Hee

Impeccable How Meng

Dependable Jinzhong

ARFC Scoring Legend Haron

Skilful Weilit

Hard-man Tjioe  

Both teams were affected by the dim lighting and found it hard to string together decent passes.  

In the 17^th min, ARFC drew first blood after Sebastian was fouled about 37 metres from goal. Fresh from his successful 1-week trial at J-League club Hokkaido Hornets, Sebastian dusted himself off the ground by simply using his inside-inner foot to spin the ball around the wall, ala Lyon’s Juninho, that left their impressive GK rooted to his spot as the ball was timed at 377 km/hr.  1-0 and this was Sebastian’s 99^th ARFC goal. 

Bouyed by the world-class free-kick goal, ARFC doubled the lead within minutes. Guoxiong made a superb run down the right flank and swung a cross over that sailed over their GK but struck the far right post.  Derrick followed up but he too struck the same post and the ball bounced to the other post. Wayne dashed in and marked his return from surgery by scrambling the ball home. 2-0 and this was Wayne’s 14^th ARFC goal. 

Darren then passed the ball to the left flank where Alvin instantly used his outside right foot to cross the ball in. Kenny ran in from blind side and headed the ball home for his 63^rd ARFC goal. 3-0 

ARFC notched its 4^th goal in the match through a series of back-flick headers that started from Eng Lai to Guoxiong to Kenny and then to Alvin whose left-foot flick went over the GK’s head for his 268^th ARFC goal.  4-0 

In the 2^nd half, ARFC displayed total complacency and thought the match had been won.  The team totally went to sleep and conceded 3 goals in quick succession.  

Luckily, at 4-3, Ron picked up a loose ball from 30 metres out, shouted Sebastian to move away, and volleyed in a sizzler that left their GK and the watching crowd stunned. 5-3 and this was Ron’s 11^th ARFC goal. 

Voting results: 

Guoxiong – 8

Ron – 8

Tze Ern – 6

Darren – 5

Elvis – 3

Derrick – 2