Guoxiong's sparkling performance in 5-8 loss

Supported by Javier (Derrick’s nephew), Clara (Guoxiong’s SYT), Tiara and Dylan (Elvis’ princess and prince), ARFC stretched its winless streak to 4 matches after going down 5-8 to Maccabees in a very exciting and attacking match.

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

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

Despite starting brightly, ARFC soon found itself 2 goals down within 17 mins.

ARFC then had a great opportunity to pull a goal back after Kenny, who has been harassing their defence non-stop, was hauled down in the box.  However, Elvis sent the spot-kick wide.  With this miss, ARFC had now missed a penalty in 3 successive matches.

Within 77 seconds, ARFC finally pulled a goal back.  From a corner on the left, Blackburn’s delivery somehow eluded everyone to nestle nicely at the far bottom corner.  1-2 and this was Blackburn’s 160^th ARFC goal.

Things got better for ARFC 7 mins later.  From a half-clear ball on the left, Darren gave chase and managed to retrieve the ball.  He then passed to Rashid who, with a deft first touch, pinged a cross-field ball right into the penalty box.  Haron read the ball to perfection and came flying in to thump home a world-class flying header ala Juergen Klinsmann for his 257^th ARFC goal. 2-2

Derrick then produced 2 stunning saves to preserve the scoreline but conceded a free-kick right at the stroke of half-time. 2-3

ARFC then conceded another goal. 2-4

ARFC did not give up and urged on by Sebastian’s rallying-call, ARFC continued to close down the opponents, with Hee, Alvin, Soon, Sebastian and Guoxiong working very hard.

Not for the first time in the match, Rashid delivered a long diagonal ball from the left all the way to the right bye-line.  The ball looked to be heading out but Guoxiong did not give up at all.  Utilising his lung-busting power, Guoxiong reached the ball just before the corner spot and sent in a high looping cross to the far post.

The opponents including their GK were totally stunned by Guoxiong’s efforts and Alvin was the biggest beneficiary when he rose to head the ball home. 3-4 and this was Alvin 308^th ARFC goal.

77 seconds later, ARFC drew level for the 2^nd time in the match.  Guoxiong won a brilliant challenge ala Roy Keane and passed to Soon.  Soon then exchanged a series of wall passes with Alvin before finding himself free in the box.  The GK were expecting Soon to square across to Alvin but Soon had other ideas when he fired the ball into the roof of the net. 4-4 and this was Soon’s 80^th ARFC goal.

Sebastian then drilled a free-kick to row Z.

ARFC then inexplicably conceded 3 quick goals to trail 4-7.

From a Darren’s throw-in, mayhem was caused to the opponents and the GK spilled the ball.  However, Hee hurried his shot and sent the ball high.

From another pressure, the ball found its way to Blackburn lurking on the right.  He then simple shot a grounder into the net for his 161^st ARFC goal. 5-7

ARFC then conceded another goal to lose 5-8.

Voting results:

Guoxiong – 10

Soon – 9

Kenny – 6

Rashid – 6

Chua – 6

Blackburn – 3

Alvin – 2

Darren – 1

Soon, Chua and Darren powered ARFC Veterans to 3-1 win

Playing its 13^th veteran match, ARFC Veterans fought hard to emerge 3-1 victors against the OVA Veterans Team thanks to inspired performances from Soon, Chua and Darren.

ARFC Veterans was hit by late withdrawals of Derrick and Kiat and had no choice but to call up Rashid.

Sebastian also turned up despite being down with illness for the past 2 days.

ARFC Veterans started with this 4-5-1 line-up:

GK – Haron

RB – Huiming

Sweeper – Eng Lai

Stopper – Toh

LB – Chua

RM – Raymond

CM – Rashid

CM – Soon

CM – Tjioe

LM – Darren

SC – Blackburn

Subs:

Sebastian

Tze Ern

Hee

Within 7 mins, Tjioe fired 2 long-range missile which flew just wide.

ARFC Veterans also kept the opponents in their half for the first 20 mins.  The opponents totally could not get into our half and was almost breathless caused by ARFC Veterans’ breath-taking display.

In the 17^th min, ARFC Veterans took the lead which was so pleasing in the eyes. From Haron’s goalkick, the ball went to Chua at left back. Chua then passed to Darren at left mid who then passed to Rashid in the left-middle. Beating one opponents, Rashid then curled a precise grounder to Soon who had dashed in from centre mid area. Soon then used his right outside foot to bend a grounder past their GK.  What a stunning and flowing team movement. 1-0 and this was Soon’s 78^th ARFC goal.

Huiming, who had an impressive display, then sent a long ball down the right for Raymond.  Selling their left-back a dummy, Raymond flew down the right bye-line before crossing to the far post.  Darren came in from the left but managed to send the ball to row Z, probably not helped by the awkward bounce of the ball.

Hee and Tze Ern then came on for Blackburn and Raymond respectively.

With just 2 mins to go, Sebastian replaced Soon who requested to be taken off after taking a knock.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC continued its hold on the match though the opponents began to be more threatening.

7 mins into the 2^nd half, Sebastian sent a free-kick into the danger zone but Toh just narrowly failed to connect with a header.

Rashid then produced several cross-field balls to the flank but ARFC Veterans could not benefit from those balls.

ARFC then looked to have doubled its lead when Tze Ern's world-class corner was hit right into any GK's most dreaded zone (between penalty spot and 6-yard box).  Haron met the ball perfectly to beat their GK but the referee incorrectly ruled that Toh had impeded their GK. Unlucky!

With 10 mins to go, the referee cruelly awarded a penalty to the opponents after their striker; shot saw the ball hit Eng Lai’s hand which was clearly a ball-to-hand.  Tjioe, who gamely volunteered as a GK for the 2^nd half, could not keep out their penalty. 1-1

ARFC Veterans then woke up from its brief slumber and quickly regained the lead.  Rashid found his way on the left and fizzed a long cross-field ball to the right. Their GK came out to challenge for the ball but Raymond somehow managed to reach the ball first before guiding the ball home. 2-1 and this was Raymond’s 16^th ARFC goal.

3 mins later, ARFC finally out the result beyond reach of the opponents. Haron and Darren combined to harass their defence and Soon was the ultimate beneficiary when the loose ball found him about 20 metres away from goal. Soon then nonchalantly lifted the ball over their GK for his 79^th ARFC goal. 3-1

Though ARFC Veterans did not play that well, the victory was still deserving.  Eng Lai’s first-half commanding performance as a sweeper was probably the best we have seen him, while Chua continued to defy and betray his age with his supremely dominating display as left-back.

Darren also continued to show that he equally as good a left winger as left-back, while Raymond’s and Tze Ern’s energy was as power as ever.  Tjioe also souped all 1^st and 2^nd balls in the first half, while Soon was all over the pitch as always, with Rashid providing the creativity outlet.

Huiming, Toh and Sebastian put in assured display in defence, while Hee, Haron and Blackburn teamed up nicely with the midfielders as well.

Alvin's penalty miss proved costly in 1-1 draw

ARFC chalked up its 3^rd draw in as many matches when it drew 1-1 with Unicorn.

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

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

In the 15^th min, Soon and Darren exchanged passes and the latter then saw How Meng sprinting down the left.  With a delicate and deft chip ala Glenn Hoddle, Darren sent How Meng down the left flank.  How Meng took a great touch before squaring to Wayne who was near the 6-yard box area.  Naturally, Wayne did not disappoint as his expertly-taken left-foot shot flew past their stunned GK for his 37^th ARFC goal.

1-0

ARFC could have doubled its lead 15 mins from the break.  How Meng, who had obviously improved so much as a player while playing for Hougang United under Philippe Aw, executed a sizzling dribble that left their defenders tangled with their legs.  Facing their GK alone, How Meng tried to round him but was hacked down.  However, Alvin could only put the resulting penalty wide!

In the 2^nd half, the opponents then equalised. 1-1

Voting results:

Ron – 14

Darren – 11

How Meng – 8

Derrick – 8

Soon – 2

Chua – 2