Soon struck winning goal in ARFC Veterans' 3-2 win

Playing its 14^th veteran match, ARFC Veterans put up a rather complacent performance though it still managed to edge out No Name 3-2.

On match-day morning, ARFC Veterans was still short of players and had to call up Rashid and Guoxiong to bolster its numbers.  However, several ARFC Veterans subsequently turned up at the 11^th hour. 

Kudos to Huiming for showing up despite being down with illness.  Role model!

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

GK – Guoxiong

RB – Kiat

Sweeper – Toh

Stopper – Tjioe

LB – Tong

RM – Raymond

CM – Sebastian

CM – Soon

LM – Darren

SC – Alvin

SC – Hee

Subs:

Haron

Eng Lai

Rashid

Huiming

ARFC Veterans was very eager and active and dominated the opening exchange though it did not manage to grab a breakthrough despite many chances.

Darren, a reborn left winger for ARFC Veterans, floated down the left flank before chipping in a delicious-looking cross that saw Hee leaping majestically but headed the ball just wide.

Sebastian then followed up when he made space for himself but hurried his shot and screwed it wide.

ARFC Veterans then suffered a crushing blow when Toh pulled his left thigh muscle after attempting a rare long-range shot with his left foot.  He was immediately replaced by Eng Lai.

Darren then played a ball to Sebastian who dummied the ball to Haron (who just came in for Hee) and continued his wall-pass run.  Haron read the move perfectly and returned the ball to Sebastian but the latter again skewed his shot just wide.

Despite coming up with so many nice passes and touches around the their penalty box, ARFC Veterans lacked penetration and could not scored.  Both Kiat and Tong also impressed as right and left back respectively, with Kiat making several forays up front while Tong produced a lung-busting overlapping run down the left flank but his cut-back did not reap benefits.

ARFC Veterans was then made to pay in the 2^nd half when the opponents scored with virtually its first attack of the match.  0-1

Within 177 seconds from the setback, ARFC Veterans equalised.  Sebastian’s nicely-floated corner kick from the right was met by Raymond who rose the highest to glance the ball to the top corner.  1-1 and this was Raymond’s 17^th ARFC goal, with 10 of those goals from ARFC Veterans matches, making him the highest goal-scorer for ARFC Veterans.

Alvin then squandered a golden opportunity when he was one-on-one with their GK.  However, he hesitated between going around GK and placing past their GK, and their GK managed to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick.

Rashid then conjured a stunning long-range shot that was just narrowly over the bar.

ARFC finally took the lead in the 60^th min. The industrious Soon found himself with the ball in the box and played to Sebastian who was also in the box. Though Soon’s ball was slightly underhit and with their GK charging out, Sebastian managed to stretch and push the ball to Blackburn who was just outside the edge of the penalty box.  Taking aim and keeping his composure, Blackburn simply rifled the ball to the top left-hand corner for his 164^th ARFC goal. 2-1

Strangely enough, ARFC Veterans conceded another goal. 2-2

Raymond then suffered Alvin’s malaise when he was put through on goal.  Though he succeeded to go round their GK, he could not get a clean shot in.

ARFC Veterans then struck the winning goal in the 77^th min.  Blackburn passed the ball to Alvin on the left flank.  Soon made a run in from deep and Alvin passed the ball through to Soon after seeing his run.  Without breaking his stride, Soon rolled a grounder past their GK for his 81^st ARFC goal. 3-2