ARFC Veterans keeps up 100% record in 2019 with 3-0 win

Playing its 26^th Veterans match on a rare Friday night match, ARFC maintained its 100% record in 2019 with its 11^th victory in as many matches by prevailing 3-0 against Football Mix.

ARFC Veterans was watched Tiara/Dylan (Elvis’ children), Clara (Guoxiong’s princess), Gerard and Germaine (Alvin’s kids).

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

GK – Derrick

RB – Chua

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Tze Ern

RM – Raymond

CM – Sebastian (Captain)

CM – Soon

LM – Darren

SC – Alvin

SC – Hee

Subs:

Huiming

Ron

Guoxiong

Eng Lai

ARFC Veterans started brightly and exerted its authority in the match by switching play at will and passing with certainty and incisively.

In fact, Alvin could have scored within 77 seconds but his shot struck the left post. Unlucky!

ARFC Veterans then failed to fully utilise the next 2 corners with Toh missing narrowly.

In the 7^th min, ARFC Veterans finally took the lead after relentless attacks.  Sebastian hit a well-weighted grounder into the box for the overlapping Chua.  Chua just missed the ball by 0.77 cm as their GK dashed out and smothered the ball.

Their GK then tried to be clever by throwing the ball to his left-back in an attempt to launch a counter-attack.   However, Raymond read his intention perfectly as he swooped in from the right, intercepted the ball before calmly despatching the ball past their stunned GK for his 24^th ARFC goal. 1-0

2 mins later, Darren’s superb cross field ball from the left saw Raymond running in from deep to elude their defenders.  With Alvin completely free to his left, Raymond chose the wrong option when he explicably shot straight at their GK.

Tze Ern then came up with a long shot which just missed the target by 0.78 mm.

In the 20^th min, ARFC Veterans doubled its lead. Darren made a run down the left flank and saw his cross pushed out by their GK in the box.  The loose ball rolled to Sebastian in the box who took aim but saw his curling placed shot hit the left upright. Darren picked up the rebound and passed to Soon who was standing at the top of the penalty box. Soon did not disappoint as he lofted the ball over their GK into the net.  2-0 and this was Soon’s 92^nd ARFC goal.

Chua then took a long shot before being replaced by Huiming.  Guoxiong also came in for Raymond, with Eng Lai and Ron taking over Elvis and Toh respectively.

Hee then just narrowly failed to connect with his head off yet another great cross from Guoxiong.

ARFC Veterans then continued to miss chances before ending the half with a 2-goal lead.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC Veterans put the result to bed within 77 seconds of the re-start.

Derrick, who came on as the striker, was the biggest beneficiary of some hard pressing ala Liverpool from both Raymond and Guoxiong on the right.  Their GK’s feeble clearance only reached Derrick who was standing about 33 metres away from their goal.  Instinctively, Derrick simply lifted the ball over their GK and the ball sailed into the unguarded net. 3-0 and this was Derrick’s 113^th ARFC goal.

Toh then became the 3^rd ARFC Veterans to hit the woodwork in this match when his long-range shot struck the cross-bar.  Unlucky but what a great shot.

ARFC Veterans then failed to add more goals and was in fact a little complacent as there were many misplaced passes in the last 10 mins.

Special mention to Derrick, Tze Ern and Eng Lai for gamely be the GK for the match.

Special credit to Eng Lai too as he took the field despite still not fully fit.

Special credit to Ron too as he played despite a pig throttle-like ankle.

Derrick – As a GK, nothing much to do.  As a striker, came up with a opportunistic goal.

Elvis – Stable display.

Toh – Was imperious in the match and nearly capped off with a goal.

Tze Ern – As a left-back, was really solid.  As a GK, nothing much to do.

Chua – Nearly scored.  His overlapping runs were just like Cafu.

Ron – Solid display.

Eng Lai – A little nervy but otherwise did ok as stopper and then as GK.

Huiming – Dependable as right-back, stopper and then left-back.  Even managed to dribble past 2 players in 2^nd half.

Guoxiong – Good performance yet again.

Raymond – Fantastic display capped off with a great goal

Darren – Gareth Bale-like display (the Wales version, not the Real Madrid version). Running out of superlatives for him

Sebastian – Captain’s display with great control of play and rhythm. Unlucky not to score.

Soon – Energy bunny as always.  Great goal too.

Alvin – Was also unlucky but what a brilliant performance as striker

Hee – Partnered very well with Alvin. Tireless harassing of their defenders.