ARFC Top 10 Goal Scorers (as at 30 Sep 2019)

1. Alvin - 319 
2. Haron - 270
3. Blackburn - 164
4. Hee - 115
5. Sebastian - 115
6. Derrick - 110
7. Toh - 100
8. Soon - 86
9. Kenny - 84
10. Chun Haw - 84

Alvin powered ARFC Veterans to 4-1 win over DC FC

Playing its 24^th Veterans match on a night match at St. Wilfrid’s pitch, ARFC Veterans dished out a scintillating display to defeat DC FC 4-1.

Due to poor responses, ARFC Veterans had to call up Rashid, Guoxiong and Malcolm as guest players to bolster the numbers.

ARFC Veterans was watched Germaine and Gerrard (Alvin’s kids) and Tiara/Dylan (Elvis’ children).

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

GK – Sunny

RB – Eng Lai

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Darren

RM – Guoxiong

CM – Sebastian

CM – Soon

LM – Rashid

SC – Haron

SC – Alvin

Subs:

Daniel Fonseca

Tze Ern (late)

Chua (late)

Malcolm (late)

ARFC Veterans started very aggressively and within 7 seconds of the kick-off, their defender made a bad pass which was intercepted by Alvin.  However, Alvin shot wide with only their GK to beat.

2 mins later, Haron was next to miss a golden chance after he combined with Alvin to force a mistake from their defender.

3 mins later, from a through pass by Soon, Alvin sprinted clear of their defence but could only shoot straight at their GK.

Sebastian then picked up a ball from outside the box and rifled in a shot that was headed upwards by their defender.  With the ball high up in the air, Sebastian followed through, waited for the ball to drop and despite 3 defenders closing in, he volleyed in a first-timer which was just 0.77 mm over the bar!

After more relentless pressing coupled with so many smooth and quick passes ala Liverpool, ARFC Veterans finally took the lead in the 10^th min. Sebastian brought the ball into the penalty box but his pass was blocked by their 1.82 metre-tall defender.  Sebastian did not give up and read that defender’s move perfectly by intercepting his clearance near the right touch-line.  Hearing Haron’s call, Sebastian squared a low ball across the 6-yard box and Toh fully utilised his bulky body to shield off their sweeper who had wanted to clear the ball which then moved to Haron.  Naturally, Haron did not disappoint as he side-footed the ball home with his left-foot.  1-0 and this was Haron’s 270^th ARFC goal.

ARFC Veterans continued to carve out chances after chances but had to be indebted to Toh in the 21^st min.

From a rare attack by the opponents, their quick striker somehow managed to evade the challenges of both Elvis and Eng Lai and bore down on goal.  Despite being at least 15 metres behind the striker, Toh turned back the years with a stunning world-class block as he chased after their striker.  Just as the striker was about to pull the trigger just outside the 6-yard box, Toh caught up with him and made an out-of-this-world block to concede a corner.   Simply brilliant that left every one stunned and jaws dropping to the ground.

ARFC Veterans then double its lead 1 min later.  From the left, Alvin moved inwards and passed to Sebastian who was standing at the top of the penalty box. Reading Alvin’s move perfectly, Sebastian executed a Firminho-like no-look reverse pass to caught their entire defence off-guard. Alvin ran in from deep, trapped the ball down superbly before poking the ball past their GK in one smooth move for his 318^th ARFC goal. 2-0

Tze Ern, Daniel Fonseca, Chua and Malcolm then came on for Guoxiong, Alvin, Toh and Rashid respectively.  Eng Lai moved to stopper to accommodate Chua at right-back while Darren moved up to left mid leaving the left back position to Malcolm. Tze Ern took over Guoxiong at right mid with Daniel Fonseca replacing Alvin upfront.

3 mins after the substitutions, Haron somehow contrived to miss from an open goal. From the right, Chua passed the ball to Tze Ern and Chua continued his over-lapping run.  Tze Ern then passed to Sebastian who read Chua’s run perfectly and threaded a low ball into this path.  Chua broke clear and with just their GK to beat, Chua showed his selflessness when he squared to the unmarked Haron.  With their GK already out and in la-la land, Haron miskicked a bit and sliced the ball 0.9 mm agonisingly wide of the right post! Unlucky!

 ARFC Veterans then conceded an unfortunate penalty through handball which they scored. 2-1

This was the line-up for the 2^nd half:

GK – Sunny

RB – Chua

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Malcolm

RM – Guoxiong

CM – Rashid

CM – Tze Ern

LM – Darren

SC – Haron

SC – Alvin

Subs:

Daniel Fonseca

Sebastian

Eng Lai

Soon

7 mins after the re-start, ARFC Veterans extended its lead with a sweeping move which saw the ball switched from the right all the way to the left.  Darren then passed to Alvin who looked up before curling a high ball over their GK and dipped ust below the cross-bar.  3-1 and this was Alvin’s 319^th ARFC goal.

In the 70^th min, Sebastian whipped in a free-kick from the right touch-line but Toh’s powerful header was just 0.15 cm over the crossbar, with Darren just right behind him.

ARFC Veterans then put the result to bed in the 77^th min.  Alvin’s corner was put to the most dangerous zone (between the 6-yard and penalty spot) and both Toh and Darren jumped for the ball. This time round, Darren reached the ball ahead of Toh and their GK and glanced the ball home ala Sami Hyypia.  4-1 and this was Darren’s 25^th ARFC goal.

Out of the 25 goals, Darren scored 13 for the ARFC “Open” team and 12 for ARFC Veterans Team.

His 25 goals also out him on level terms with Kiat Gulam in the ARFC’s All-Time Top Scorers’ List.

As GK, Sunny was largely untroubled and he came up with a few assured catch of the ball.

Eng Lai was sturdy at both right-back and stopper, and had also closed down the opponents on a few occasions high up the pitch.

Elvis was again at his imperious best as sweeper and even made a few dribbles on his own.  At one point, Elvis even dashed up all the way as a striker in their box but the ball did not come to him.

Toh’s stunning recovery block alone would make everyone, including PRCs, salivate. Simply world-class!

Darren only started as left-back due to insufficient defenders at the start.  When moved up as left-mid, he was again unplayable. Capped off a good night with a brilliant header.

Guoxiong was simply fortress at right mid. Marvellous player.

Soon’s energy and closing down was simply too much for the opponents to bear. Wonderful team player.

Sebastian’s 2 assists for the match paved the way for the victory.  Particularly, his Firminho-like assist for Alvin was top class.

Rashid’s touches and passing had every one purring. 

Haron – Very good closing down of their defence through his fantastic positioning. Good Ian Rush-type of goal.

Alvin – Been playing like a Hulk in recent months with his aggressive yet purposeful runs.  The 2 goals were his just rewards.

Tze Ern – His pace and power were clearly superior. A good tidy player.

Chua – No one can believe that he is already 55 years old.  Played like a 25 year-old.  Showed his selflessness with his pass to Haron when he could easily chip the ball over their advancing GK.

Daniel Fonseca – Came up with a few neat touches to team-mates.

Malcolm – A dependable defender with simple play.

Tjioe rolled back the years with Scholes-like goal in 5-3 win

Continuing its recent fine form, ARFC shrugged aside the challenge of Redbacks 5-3 with an inspiring performance from Chun Haw.

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

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

With its first attack of the match, Alvin, who had put up very Mane-like performances recently with his incessant pressing, was hacked down in the penalty box.  In the absence of regular penalty-takers Sebastian and Haron, Chun Haw stepped up to hit a decisive side-footer into the bottom left corner. 1-0 and this was Chun Haw’s 83^rd ARFC goal.

The opponents then equalised in the 9^th min. 1-1

At the 20^th min mark, ARFC gave a run-out to all 4 substitutes.

In the 27^th min, off yet another delicious-looking cross from Guoxiong, who has been totally unplayable at right mid, their defender handled the ball which gave the referee the easiest of decisions to make.  Again, Chun Haw took the spot-kick but this time round, he placed the ball expertly and precisely to the top left corner. 2-1 and this was Chun Haw’s 84^th ARFC goal. 

With this goal, Chun Haw is now on level terms with Kenny in the ARFC’s all-time top scorers list.

With 77 seconds to go before the half-time whistle, ARFC extended its lead. Off a Rory Delap-like throw-in from Kerwin, Rashid picked up the loose ball and heard a call from Tjioe.  Rashid then laid a perfectly-weighted ball to Tjioe who then turned back the years when he curled home a powerful and world-class ball, ala Paul Scholes, from outside the box to the bottom right corner that gave their GK no chance at all!  3-1 and this was Tjioe’s 66^th ARFC goal.

In the 70^th min, Tjioe won a header from midfield and the ball fell to Guoxiong. Spotting the run from Chun Haw from deep, Guoxiong played in a perfect ball that saw Chun Haw beating the off-side trap.  With only their GK to beat, Chun Haw unselfishly passed up the chance to score a hat-trick when he squared the ball across for Javier to stroke the ball into the empty net.  4-1 and this was Javier’s 9^th ARFC goal.

What a wonderful team play from Chun Haw, similar to Darren’s similar move to Wayne few weeks ago.  The only difference was Darren got a Mercedes C180 from boss Wayne with that pass, while Chun Haw only received a kiss from Javier.

In the 74^th min, Kerwin, who is living up to his potential to succeed Darren at left-back eventually, won the ball on the left side.  Kerwin then hit a cross-field ball from left to right which saw Javier coming from blindside, beat their off-side trap and planted a firm low shot into the bottom corner of the goal.  5-1 and this was Javier’s 10^th ARFC goal.

The opponents then pulled back 2 consolation goals. 5-3

ARFC in impressive 6-3 over MOE team

Playing for the first time at the magnificent Spectra Sec Sch pitch, ARFC delivered one of its finest performances to defeat the formidable MOE team 6-3.

ARFC was supported by Dylan and Tiara (Elvis’ lively children), Reyes (Darren’s son), Clara (Guoxiong’s daughter), Germaine and Gerrard (Alvin’s kids), and best supporter Lingzhi (Ron’s wife)

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

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
xx	Fremont (guest GK)	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
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
12	Remarkable Rashid	Centre Mid
19	Skillful Weilit	Left Mid
xx	Precocious Javier	Striker
Substitutes:
11	Speedy Hee (late)
13	Energetic Kerwin (late)
14	Combative Ron (late)
99	Powerful Alvin
Missing In Action:
2	Unpredictable Blackburn
5	Impeccable How Meng
8	Talented Chun Haw
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
10	Sublime Khim
15	Towering Toh
17	Nippy Kenny
18	Determined Huiming
21	Rampaging Raymond
28	Hard-man Tjioe
33	Talisman Derrick
45	Commanding Ismail
66	Wonder Wayne
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern

Prior to the match, Rashid warned that the MOE team is a very strong team which regularly featured amongst the winners in the Singapore Government Service Football League Div 1.  Comprising mostly PE teachers, they are very fit, young and have good players who also played for some NFL teams.

ARFC only took the lead within 7 seconds of the match.  The opponents played a careless ball to the right which was picked up by Guoxiong.  Unfortunately, Guoxiong’s cross into the box for the unguarded Javier was slightly over-hit.

ARFC took the lead in the 7^th min with a smooth move.  Receiving the ball from Chua at right back, Rashid threaded a perfectly-weight grounder down the right wing for Guoxiong to run in from deep.  From the bye-line, Guoxiong’s low cross found Soon who was just outside the 6-yard box.  Holding up the ball brilliantly, Soon waited for a call from Weilit before laying the ball on a platter for Weilit to skilfully place the ball into the bottom left corner.  1-0 and this was Weilit’s 15^th ARFC goal.

This was also Weilit’s first goal for ARFC in 2019. His last goal for ARFC came on 14 Jan 2018 in a 5-2 win over the OVA Under-40S team at Victoria School.

With this goal, Weilit also moved up on level terms with both Elvis and Ron at 15 goals for ARFC.

ARFC then doubled its lead 3 minutes later.  A sweeping move down the left saw Weilit doing a couple of step-overs before passing to Javier who was at the top of the penalty box.  Javier dragged the ball away to his right and away from the opponents before letting fly a thunderbolt from outside the box that almost burst the net, giving their GK no chance at all!  2-0 and this as Javier’s 7^th ARFC goal, level with both Eng Lai and Jinzhong.

The opponents then pulled a goal back. 2-1

Sebastian then hit a corner to his usual danger zone but without Toh’s presence, ARFC could not make it count.

ARFC restored its 2-goal cushion in the 17^th min with Guoxiong again the architect.  Galloping down the right flank time, Guoxiong’s hit a dangerous-looking low ball right across goal and Javier nipped to scored with a real cheeky back-heeled goal ala Robin van Persi that stunned all player and spectators alike.  3-1 and this was Javier’s 8^th ARFC goal.

Alvin then replaced Javier who suffered a knock at his ankle, while Hee came on for Weilit. 

2 mins later, ARFC nearly scored when Sebastian hit a precise left foot high ball over their defence.  Alvin dashed in and outmuscled their sweeper but his dinked bal over their GK was clawed away by the GK.  Unlucky.

Ron also took the place of Sebastian with Kerwin taking over Guoxiong.

With 7 mins to go before half-time, Kerwin’s pace took him past their left-back and he delivered a powerfully-hit low cross that saw Alvin lifting the ball over their GK.  With the ball in front of him and GK behind him, Alvin utilised all 777 of his upper-body muscles to hold off their GK while watching the ball slowly rolling towards the empty goal.  Suddenly from out of nowhere, Hee sped in and touched the ball home, thereby scoring his pick durian goal.  4-1 and this was Hee’s 115^th ARFC goal, same number of goals as Sebastian.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC appeared to be complacent and nearly conceded 2 goals.

ARFC then woke up and began its composure and patience play.

The opponents then scored. 4-2.

2 mins later, ARFC restored its 3-goal lead.  From Kerwin’s missile-like throw-in on the right, Alvin leaped like a salmon and despite being surrounded by 3 defenders who were all taller than him, Alvin glanced the ball home for his 317^th ARFC goal 5-2

The opponents then pulled another goal back. 5-3.

7 mins later, ARFC scored its 6^th goal of the match and also the best goal of the match.

From right-back position, Chua passed the ball back to Fremont who then turned the ball over to Darren at left-back.  Darren inched upfield and Javier was smart enough to drop deep from his striker position to ask for the ball. Darren then passed the ball to Javier who heard Guoxiong shouting for the ball.  Javier executed a superb and well-paced ball down the right and Guoxiong outran their left-back.  Everyone was anticipating a cross from Guxiong, especially with Alvin running into the box and waiting to receive the cross, Guoxiong had no other ideas as he fooled their covering defender by faking a cross and cutting in to his left foot before slotting the ball past their GK.  Simply class!  6-3 and this was Guoxiong’s 35^th ARFC goal.

ARFC then closed out the match with controlled pace and discipline.

This was a match where all ARFC warriors played very well.  Every warrior was up to his task and it was really a team effort to see off such a formidable opponents.

In goal, Fremont was solid and came up with a few assured punches despite being challenged by their strikers. Not yet Alisson’s level but certainly at Adrian’s level.

Like Alan Hansen and VVD, Elvis was really commanding as usual and led the line very well.

Eng Lai put in a typical Stephen Henchoz-like display at stopper accounted himself very well despite being up against strikers who were probably his son’s age.

Ron was uncompromising at both central mid and stopper ala Mascherano.

Chua was Rob Jones and Steve Nicol at right-back.  I did not recall a moment when their left winger got past him at all.

Darren was a combination of Jim Beglin and Andrew Robertson at left-back. Faced with their tricky right winger, Darren gave nothing away.

Kerwin was really a version of Trent-Arnold Alexander and Jason McAteer.

Guoxiong at right mid was really a monster as he played just like Dirk Kuyt.

As usual, Soon was at his Fabinho best with so many closing down and breathing down the opponents’ neck.

Rashid’s touches and passes were exactly like Shaqiri, well-measured and timed.

Weilit did well with his Steven McMananam-like performance.

Sebastian was really like Xabi Alonso with his control of the pace and supreme organisation of the team during the match.

Hee was like Mane with his incessant harassing of their defenders and came back a few times to help out with defence as well.

Alvin was like Fernando Torres (the Liverpool version, not the Chelsea one) with his maximum utilisation of both pace and power to cause all sorts of problems for their defence.

Javier is a mix between Salah and Firminho for this match.

There is no voting required for this match as ALL ARFC warriors played very well.