ARFC Veterans maintained perfect 6/6 records in 2019 with 3-2 win

Playing its 21^st Veterans match on 10 Jul 2019 at 7 pm at the superb newly-returfed pitch at St. Wilfred’s, ARFC Veterans defeated DC FC once again in a 3-2 win.

With the win, ARFC Veterans maintained its 6 wins out of 6 matches in 2019.

ARFC Veterans was watched by Ron’s beau, Lingzhi.

As Derrick was late, credit to Tjioe for volunteering to play as GK first.

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

GK – Tjioe

RB – Eng Lai

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Qingxing

RM – Khim

CM – Sebastian

CM – Soon

CM – Ron

LM - Darren

SC – Daniel Fonseca

Subs:

Hee

Chua

Derrick

ARFC Veterans started the match gingerly but was able to gain control of the match.

Derrick then appeared and took over Tjioe as GK.

After some probings, ARFC Veterans opened the scoring in the 17^th min after some pressure from Darren and Daniel Fonseca (who impressed with some very neat and nice simple touches to free up team mates) down the left.  The ball found its way to Sebastian who was about 7 metres outside the box.  Sebastian brought the ball inwards and exchanged a simple one-two pass with the ever-sublime Khim and ran in from deep.  Khim read Sebastian’s move perfectly and returned a lofted ball and in the process, took 3 defenders out of the equation.   Sebastian brought the ball down with a deft touch, ala Dennis Bergkamp, faced their GK one-on-one, before despatching the ball into the far right bottom corner.  1-0 and this was Sebastian’s 113^th ARFC goal, putting him on level terms with Hee.

ARFC then continued to press and created many chances but to no avail.

The referee then gave the most bizarre decision ever when he awarded a penalty kick to the opponents after he penalised Derrick for charging out of his area and collided their striker though Derrick got a hand to the ball.

No matter. Derrick guessed correctly by diving to his right to keep out their penalty, once again cementing his world-class reputation for saving penalty kicks.

However, the opponents then equalised after capitalising from an ARFC Veterans mistake.

Tjioe then came on for Sebastian while Hee replaced Ron to partner Daniel Fonseca upfront, with ARFC Veterans changing to a 4-4-2 formation.

Hee quickly, pun not intended, stamped his mark by harassing their defenders with his world-renowned speed.

Chua also came on for Khim, with Eng Lai moving up as right mid.

In the 2^nd half, Tjioe was deployed as a striker and within 77 seconds, Tjioe made a wonderful run into the box, picked up a Khim’s pass, and produced a sliding snap-shot that just missed the post by 0.77 mm.

Sebastian then received a pass from Darren from 37 metres out but his half-volley just missed the stanchion by 0.07 mm!

At 54 years old, Chua then came up with several overlapping runs to put to shame some younger players.

ARFC Veterans then regained the lead with yet another incisive pass from Khim.  The beneficiary of Khim’s grounder pass which pierced right through the heart of their defence was Darren.  Darren’s finishing matched the quality of Khim’s brilliant pass when Darren sliced a low shot with his left foot, ala Mo Salah, beyond the despairing dive of their GK.  2-1 and this was Darren’s 21^st ARFC goal.

Soon was then unlucky when his superb long-range shot ha their GK rooted to the spot but the ball clipped the cross-bar and out.

ARFC Veterans then sew up the match in the 70^th min.  Sebastian took a quick short corner on the right to Khim who then returned the ball to him.  Sebastian then swung in a perfectly-weighted ball to the far post and all Darren had to do was to put his forehead to the ball, ala a typical David Beckham-Sheringham goal.  Darren obliged and headed home powerfully for his 22^nd ARFC goal.  3-1

Eng Lai then gamely took over Derrick in goal to allow Derrick to play striker upfront.

The opponents then pulled a goal back. 3-2.

ARFC continued to create chances but could not grab another goal to close out the match 3-2 victors.

ARFC Veterans played really well for this match with many simple and effective passing which was a real delight to behold.   

Derrick – Good penalty save and played rather well as striker

Eng Lai – Solid performance as right back and right mid

Elvis – Led the defence very well

Toh – Came up tops with several aerial challenges

Qingxing – Great to see his crunching tackles and long-range missile-lie clearances once again

Khim – I have ran out of superlatives to describe this player. Enough said!

Sebastian – Dominated centre mid today. Great composed goal too.

Soon – A typical all-action display. Unlucky to not score a goal.

Ron – Powerful at defence and midfield

Darren – A reborn left winger.  Fantastic brace!

Daniel Fonseca – Many nice and simple touches to free up team mates and created space.  Great match!

Hee – His harassing and closing down of opposing defenders is probably second to none.

Chua – 54 year-old but played like 24 year-old! Overlapping runs like Cafu!

Tjioe – Great hold-up play as striker. Unlucky not to score with his superb snap shot.