Haron notched 250th ARFC goal in commanding-yet-ironic 3-4 loss

Playing under Qatar-like temperature at Naval Base SS, ARFC suffered a somewhat bizarre 3-4 loss to Team Recon.

ARFC was supported by its die-hard supporter, Lingzi and Rio (wife and son of Ron) as well as Clara (Guoxiong’s beautiful daughter) Tiara and Dylan (cute children of Elvis).

ARFC started with this 4-4-2 line-up:

Jersey no.	Name	Position
33	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right-back
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis	Sweeper
14	Combative Ron	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left-back
4	Dynamic Soon	Right-mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre-mid
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Centre-mid
2	Unpredictable Blackburn	Left-mid
17	Nippy Kenny	Striker
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Subs:
8	Talented Chun Haw
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
12	Remarkable Rashid
15	Towering Toh
31	Vintage Chua
66	Wonder Wayne
Absent:
5	Impeccable How Meng
10	Sublime Khim
11	Speedy Hee
18	Determined Huiming
19	Skillful Weilit
20	Composed Eng Lai
21	Rampaging Raymond
45	Commanding Ismail
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern

ARFC started very brightly and as in total control with 4 corners within the first 10 minutes.

However, other than Tjioe’s header which just sailed over the cross-bar, ARFC was unable to grab a breakthrough.

Kenny and Alvin were particularly threatening with their constant harassing of their defence.  From such a move, Kenny spotted their GK off the line but his long-range effort was hit just a little too high.

After a water break due to the humid weather, ARFC made a string of substitutions with all 6 substitutes coming on.

Strangely enough, ARFC then gifted 4 comical goals to trail 0-4 at half-time.

After a fiery half-time talk, ARFC too to the field with renewed fire, focus and determination.

Within 2 mins of the re-start, Sebastisn’s corner from the right found Kenny at the edge of the penalty box.  Unfortunately, Kenny was unable to connect with a volley as he sliced the ball.

From yet another corner from Sebastian, Toh leaped and connected with his eagle-spread header but it went just 0.15 mm over.

Chun Haw then picked up a loose ball but he sent his violent shot into Row Z.

In the 50^th min, ARFC finally pulled a goal back.  Picking up a loose ball outside the box, Sebastian demonstrated great composure and vision ala Alonso when he chipped in a precise ball for Chun Haw to latch on.  With a great take-down, Chun Haw fired the ball into the roof of the net for his 67^th ARFC goal. 1-4

2 mins later, Rashid released Guoxiong with a world-class defence-splitting ball and Guoxiong faced their GK.  However, Guoxiong’s shot was too close to their GK who made a great block.

3 mins later, Rashid’s stinging shot looked destined for goal until their GK produced a stunning world-class flying save to palm the ball out for a corner.

Chun Haw then put Alvin through but Alvin could not get a clean shot at goal and the ball was easily saved.

Rashid, who is already looking like a great signing, produced a sizzling slide-rule pass down the right flank to Guoxiong who was running from deep.  Hearing Alvin’s call for the ball, Guoxiong cross was perfectly-placed and Alvin took a superb first-touch before placing the ball nicely to the left bottom of the goal. 2-4 and this was Alvin’s 301^st ARFC goal.

Playing with great belief now, ARFC totally dominated proceedings and the opponents did not even have any shots in the 2^nd half.

However, ARFC continued to miss several chances.

In the 70^th min, ARFC won a penalty after Chun Haw was clumsily upended in the box.  Knowing that Haron needed a goal to reach the 250^th-goal landmark, regular ARFC penalty-taker Sebastian passed up the chance to Haron.  Unsurprisingly, Haron nonchalantly marched up and stroked the ball down the middle for his 250^th ARFC goal. 3-4.

Despite several more attacks, ARFC could not conjured an equalising goal.

Special mention must be given to ARFC’s defence in the 2^nd half as they were more focused, particularly Toh who won several crucial aerial balls.

Voting Results:

Chun Haw – 10

Rashid – 9

Sebastian – 9

Ron – 7

Guoxiong – 6

Kenny – 4

Alvin – 2

Chua – 1 

ARFC Veterans loses its unbeaten record in undeserving 1-4 defeat

Playing its 7^th veteran match and the first time in ages in a 9 am match, ARFC Veteran Team finally lost its unbeaten run in an undeserving 1-4 defeat by FC Waterway.

ARFC Veterans received a rude shock when regular world-class GK Derrick failed to turn up. Rumours had it that he was super drunk and lying unconsciously till 12 pm at Syed Alwi Road with some unknown PRC female nationals.  

Kiat then volunteered to be GK.

ARFC Veterans started with this line-up:

GK – Kiat

RB – Eng Lai

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Huiming

LB – David

RM – Raymond

CM – Sebastian (Captain)

CM – Tjioe

LM – Soon

SC – Haron

SC – Jeffrey

Subs:

Ron

Tze Ern

Blackburn

Toh

Daniel

ARFC Veterans started very confidently and was in total control for the first 10 mins with Sebastian and Tjioe dominating the centre mid with monster-like display.

From their first shot, however, the opponents scored a goal. 0-1

From their second shot, the opponents scored again with a speculative high lob!  0-2

ARFC Veterans did not allow its heads to drop and Raymond was put clean through but hurried and skied the shot.

ARFC Veterans then received a crushing blow when Huiming hobbled off with an serious-looking ankle injury after he made a stunning block to prevent a certain goal.

Raymond was then made to rue another near miss.  From the left, Blackburn headed backwards to the far post and Raymond just couldn’t get his header downwards and the ball landed over the bar.

From several corners from Sebastian, ARFC Veterans could not pull a goal back though the corners were hit into the danger area.

Kiat then pulled off 3 point-blank saves in succession.

In the second half, ARFC again controlled proceedings in the opening 10 mins but just could not grab a break-through.

Stunningly, ARFC Veterans went 3 goals down when a Stoke-like move resulted in the opponents scoring a freak goal from a throw-in!! 0-3

In the 57^th min, ARFC Veterans finally got the goal it deserved. Sebastian’s free-kick from the left was perfectly chipped in to Tjioe who trapped the ball beautifully in the crowded penalty box. Despite surrounded by many team-mates and opponents, Tjioe found his footing and thumped in a rocket for the 63^rd ARFC goal. 1-3

By now, ARFC Veterans was inspired and attacked relentlessly.

Cruel fate struck ARFC veterans again when they scored a lucky goal. 1-4

Blackburn then laid the ball to the on-rushing Soon just at the top of the penalty box but Soon shot straight at their GK.

Special credit goes to both Kiat and David for volunteering to be GK for each half.

It was really a shame to lose the unbeaten record to FC Waterway which is just an average, though much younger, team at best.  The 4 goals were totally gifts to them and ARFC Veterans have to do better in the next match in April 2018.   

ARFC in hard-fought 4-6 loss to a much younger and fitter opponents

Playing under cool weather with light drizzling, ARFC put up a good fight against a much younger and fitter opponents Grande Vista but succumbed to 4-6 loss eventually.

ARFC was supported by its die-hard supporter, Lingzi (wife of Ron) as well as Tiara and Dylan.

ARFC started with this 4-4-2 line-up:

Jersey no.	Name	Position
33	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
31	Vintage Chua	Right-back
20	Composed Eng Lai	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left-back
77	Dependable Jinzhong	Right-mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre-mid
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Centre-mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left-mid
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron	Striker
66	Wonder Wayne	Striker
Subs:
2	Unpredictable Blackburn
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
12	Remarkable Rashid
14	Combative Ron
99	Powerful Alvin
Absent:
4	Dynamic Soon
5	Impeccable How Meng
8	Talented Chun Haw
11	Speedy Hee
17	Nippy Kenny
18	Determined Huiming
19	Skillful Weilit
21	Rampaging Raymond
28	Hard-man Tjioe
45	Commanding Ismail
78	Steely Tze Ern

The opponents started quickest and ARFC soon found itself 0-2 down within 10 minutes.

However, ARFC soon got its act together and Haron signaled the start of ARFC’s revival when he volleyed from 27 metres but the ball went just 7 cm wide.

Sebastian’s precise corner from the right was then met with the forehead of Toh but his header was saved on the line by their GK.  Unfortunately, no one followed up.

Another corner from Sebastian, this time from the left, again reached the forehead of Toh but he could not get enough power behind the header.

ARFC then made a string of substitutions with Rashid, Ron and Alvin coming on for Jinzhong, Eng Lai and Haron respectively.

Rashid was the fouled on the left.  From the ensuing free-kick, Sebastian high curling ball deceived their GK who was caught cold by the ball which sailed over him to the far post. The ball struck the post but fortunately, Wayne swooped in and pushed the ball home with his well-built body.  1-2 and this was Wayne’s 35^th ARFC goal.

Blackburn then replaced Wayne who had taken a kick.

With almost his first touch of the ball, Blackburn equalized. Alvin’s corner from the left was only half-cleared to the lurking Sebastian outside the box. Instinctively, Sebastian kicked the ball back into the danger area (just near the 6-yard area) and Blackburn simply turned and squeezed the ball into the post of their GK. 2-2 and this was Blackburn’s 157^th ARFC goal.

By now, ARFC was having the upper hand and nearly took the lead for the first time on 2 occasions.

First, Blackburn passed the ball to Haron who then dummied the ball and ran in. Alvin read his move perfectly and returned the ball to Haron who just shot 9 cm wide. Unlucky but what a move that reminded all of the famous Andy Cole-and Dwight Yorke move years back.

Rashid then picked up a wild clearance from their GK and from almost the halfway point on the left, he swung the ball over their GK who showed great recovery with a quick dash back and tipped the ball over for a corner.

The opponents then took the lead again with almost the last kick of the half. 2-3

In the 2^nd half, Derrick spread himself wide and deflected a sure-goal for a corner. World-class save.

Haron almost equalized after their GK fumbled with a simple catch 3 times in one move but Haron was unable to get a nice footing for a clean shot.

The opponents then scored twice to lead 5-2.

ARFC did not give up at all and continued pressing the opponents.

From such pressing, Alvin burst clear and was upended by their right-back in the box. Khim stepped up and thrashed ball right through the middle for his 60^th ARFC goal. 3-5 now.

ARFC by now was breathing with fire and continued creating chances after chances. With first Guoxiong and then Ron anchoring the centre mid, Sebastian and Rashid were able to attack with ease.

ARFC pulled another goal back 7 mins later. From Darren’s long throw-in, the opponents were unable to clear the ball and the ball rolled out to the waiting Sebastian just outside the box.  Taking aim almost eternally, Sebastian mustered all his strength to powerfully side-foot the ball through a sea of defenders and right through the middle that gave their GK no chance at all. 4-5 and this was Sebastian’s 105^th ARFC goal.

ARFC then suffered a stroke of bad luck. Haron was clearly upended in the box but the referee failed to spot the foul.  From the counter-attack, the opponents scored.  4-6 was the final score.

Voting Results:

Rashid  - 11

Ron – 9

Khim – 8

Sebastian – 6

Darren – 4

Alvin – 1

Guoxiong – 1

Toh – 1

Chua – 1

Jinzhong – 1