ARFC Veterans maintained 100% record in 2019 with 3-1 victory

Playing its 17^th veteran match against Poh Tiong Choon Logistics on 08 Mar 2019 (Friday) at 7 pm at the Hougang Stadium, ARFC Veterans maintained its 100% record in 2019 (2 wins out of 2) with a very controlled and patient display to win 3-1.

It was also the very first time that ARFC had played at the Hougang Stadium.

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

GK – Darren

RB – Eng Lai

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Chua

RM – Raymond

CM – Sebastian

CM – Soon

CM - Ron

LM – Tong

SC – Alvin

Subs:

Hee

Rashid

Haron (late)

Tze Ern (late)

Special mention to Darren for volunteering to be GK for the first half.

Special credit to Ron for agreeing to be GK for the first 20 mins of the second half despite suffering an injury to his ankle.

Special mention to Raymond for taking over Ron as GK when the latter could not continued anymore.

ARFC Veterans took the lead in the 3^rd min.  From left back, Chua won the ball and passed to Sebastian.  Spotting Alvin’s run as he peeled away to the left wing area, Sebastian lofted a perfectly-weighted ball onto his path.  Alvin took a nice touch before squaring the ball across.  Soon, who started his run right after Sebastian’s ball, reached the area just inside the penalty box, swivelled and swept home across their GK for his 82^nd ARFC goal (5 goals were for the Veterans Team). 1-0

ARFC Veterans doubled its lead 7 mins later.  Eng Lai hit a high ball to the centre circle area.  With the ball bouncing, Raymond jumped and managed to head the ball away from their hesitant opponents. With a clear sight at goal, Raymond surged in with the ball and despite Alvin calling for the ball as he was free on the left, Raymond’s single-mindedness saw him drilled the ball into the corner. 2-0 and this was Raymond’s 11^th goal for the Veterans Team and 18^th ARFC goal overall.

ARFC Veterans was then the victim of a poor referee decision in the 17^th min. Sebastian’s reverse no-look pass picked up Tong in the box just above the penalty spot and Tong duly scored but was wrongly ruled offside.

In fact, the lousy referee continued to make at least 5-6 wrong calls especially on off-side decisions. 

ARFC Veterans then made a string of substitutions with Rashid coming on for the injured Ron, Hee for Tong, Haron for Alvin and Tze Ern for Chua.

Tze Ern then made the move of the match when he embarked on a 80-metre sprint from his left back position to chase after his own clearance. Amazingly, he still managed to reach the ball ahead of their right-back and even managed to win a throw-in!!!

In the 2^nd half, ARFC Veterans continued to press and build up play with patient passing.

There were several good moves and from one such move, Hee’s low shot was just wide. 

Rashid then unleashed a stinging volley that was just 0.12 cm over the bar.

Both Darren and Raymond also prodded both wings with some crosses but to no avail.

ARFC Veterans then deservingly extended its lead in the 5^7th min. Chua pinged a ball down the right flank to Raymond who brought he ball all the way to the byeline before crossing in.  Haron tried to challenge for the ball but the opponents’ GK spilled the ball into his path.  Haron then gratefully and gleefully placed the ball into the empty net.  3-0 and this was a typical poacher’s goal from Haron.  The goal was also Haron’s 259^th ARFC goal, with 7 of those goals coming from Veterans matches.

Rashid then passed to Raymond who could only shot straight at their GK.

Chua’s selflessness then produced the wrong result.  After intercepting a ball from their corner. Chua ran with the ball all the way up to their penalty box.  Despite not closed down by any opponents and with their GK at his mercy, Chua took the wrong option when he tried to pass to Haron and the ball was intercepted by their ex-S-League defender.  Of course, all the ARFC Veterans playfully chided Chua for not taking a shot which would surely have netted him a debut goal for ARFC.

The opponents then scored a breakaway goal. 3-1

Ron then reacted sharply with a low full-length diving save to keep out a certain goal.  Wonderful athlete. 

Elvis was totally commanding in leading his line while Toh was at his imperious self.