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