Sebastian nets ARFC Veterans' 100th goal in 30 matches in 2-1 victory

 Playing its 3^rd match in 2022 and 30^th Veterans match overall, ARFC Veterans came from behind to earn a well-deserved 2-1 win over Elites Veterans FC at the magnificent pitch at The Cage@Turf City on 19 Jun (Saturday) at 7 pm.  

 

ARFC Veterans started with this 4-3-3 line-up:

 

GK – Nelson (guest player)

RB – Chua

Sweeper – Eng Lai

Stopper – Toh

LB – Darren

CM – Allan (guest player)

CM – Guoxiong

CM – Sebastian (captain)

LF – Alvin

CF – Haron

RF – Derrick

 

Subs:

 

Elvis (late)

Ron (late)

Soon (arrived in 2^nd half)

 

Despite having the upper hand in the early exchanges, ARFC Veterans somehow found itself behind in the 7^th min after they scored from a quick counter-attack.  0-1.

 

ARFC Veterans did not let the goal affected themselves and actually stepped up a gear or two.

 

After Derrick won a corner on the right, Sebastian’s floated ball saw Toh jumped the highest but just glanced his header about 0.15 mm off the left post.  Unlucky but what a leap from Toh!

 

Eng Lai and Elvis then came up with one vital interception each to keep the opponents at bay. 

 

In the 15^th min, Derrick laid a low ball to Guoxiong who hit a fierce shot from outside the box that was saved by their GK.

 

After more intense pressings, ARFC Veterans finally pulled level in the 20^th min with a wonderful move and movements.

 

Guoxiong sent a ball to Alvin who had pulled away to the right flank.  Though 2 defenders were closing in on Alvin, Alvin held up the ball well, with Chua making a decoy run down the right touchline.  Looking up, Alvin fizzed in a wicked ball which saw Haron dishing out a world-class Luis Suarez-like movement by running towards the near post, thereby pulling a defender with him.  Haron then sold the defender a dummy by letting the ball flew past him to the far post, where Allan popped up to sweep a half volley home ala Sadio Mane for a dream debut goal.  1-1!!

ARFC Veterans continued to attack and was really unlucky not to go into the half with a lead.

 

First, Chua embarked on a lung-bursting run by dribbling the ball up the pitch.  After going past 3 opponents and arriving right outside the right edge of the penalty box, their defender had no choice but to hack Chua down just 0.66 mm outside the box, before Chua can inflict more damage on the opponents.

 

From the resulting free-kick, Sebastian whipped in a ball that looked to be heading to Haron for a goal but their sweeper then somehow headed the ball away.   

 

Nelson then produced a long kick that bounced over their entire defence and Derrick swooped in like an eagle and bore down at goal.  With a great first touch, Derrick controlled the ball well and went round their GK. Just before he can place the ball home, their GK made a miraculous recovery and hoofed the ball out for a corner. Unlucky!

 

Heading into the break, ARFC Veterans received a huge morale-booster when they saw Soon arriving after his 50-km run earlier in the morning.

 

With Soon taking the pitch, ARFC Veterans approached the 2^nd half with extra spring in their steps.  Wanting to hit the opponents quick and hard, Sebastian moved both Darren and Chua up to left mid and right mid respectively, to leverage on their speed and stamina.

 

ARFC Veterans were finally rewarded 13 minutes after the re-start with yet another wonderful team move.

 

Soon passed to Haron who shielded the ball from their defender before passing to Sebastian who was about 7 metres from him.  After passing the ball, Haron made a run into the penalty box and with almost telepathic understanding, Sebastian lofted a delicate ball over their defence.  Haron then produced a Firminho-like moment when he brought the ball down expertly, turned away from a defender and rounded their GK who was late and caught Haron with a late tackle.  Needless to say, it was a stone-wall penalty.

 

Sebastian strolled up and drilled a low diagonal ball to his usual penalty spot, i.e bottom left corner, that left their GK rooted to the spot.  2-1 and this was Sebastian’s 125^th ARFC goal.

 

Incidentally, this goal was also the 100^th goal scored in ARFC Veterans matches. 

 

Ron then produced a out-of-the-world sliding recovery tackle to clear the ball away, with 2 opponents behind him and one in front of him.

 

ARFC Veterans nearly extended its lead with yet another brilliant move.  From his left-mid position, Darren passed to Sebastian in the middle and started his run from deep. Sebastian pinged a ball down the left flank and Darren galloped away down the left flank before delivering a cross to the far right.  Derrick picked up the ball, waited a while before laying a low ball on a platter to Alvin who was standing at the top of the penalty box.  Picking his spot, Alvin bent a wicked curler ala Mo Salah that had goal screaming until their GK produced a flying save to palm the ball out for a corner.  Unlucky what a move!

 

Toh then came up with another towering header that just slightly wide.

 

ARFC Veterans was then indebted to Eng Lai who dished out a good interception with their striker waiting to pounce on a loose ball. 

 

ARFC Veterans then held out for a well-earned and well-deserved 2-1 victory.

 

Including this match, these were all the details for ARFC Veterans’ 30 matches since it was formed in 2017:

 

Year	P	W	D	L	GF	GA
2017	4	3	1	0	21	7
2018	11	8	1	2	29	21
2019	12	11	0	1	43	16
2020	0	0	0	0	0	0
2022	3	2	0	1	7	10
Total	30	24	2	4	100	54

 

These are the top 5 scorers for ARFC Veterans’ 30 matches:

 

1.    Raymond – 18 goals

2.    Haron – 14 goals

3.    Darren – 11 goals

4.    Soon – 10 goals

5.    Sebastian – 10 goals

 

 

·       Nelson – Commanding display with assured handling of the ball.  Almost chalked up an assist with his long kick.

 

·       Chua – His best display thus far, excelling both a right back and right mid.  Energetic display despite his age (58 years old!). Joint Man-of-the Match with Alvin.

 

·       Eng Lai – Again, unbelievable performance for a 58 year-old. Contained their speedy left winger (who was about half his age) with clever positioning.

 

·       Toh – Won all aerial duals and almost scored a header.  Did not even let their young and tall forward get past him at all.  Slowly back to his best.

 

·       Darren – Played like Andy Robertson. Dominated the left flank in the whole match.

 

·       Allan – Very neat performance and his utility was fully utilised during the match as he played at right mid, centre mid, left mid and even left back at various stages of the match.  Rewarded with a well-taken goal.

 

·       Guoxiong – Solid performance with good covering of positions. Played in several positions in the match.

 

·       Sebastian – Improved after a tentative start due to a niggling knee strain.  Gradually controlled the midfield and was rewarded with a goal and ARFC Veterans’ 100^th goal.

 

·       Alvin – Joint Man-of-the-Match with his strong direct running and closing down of their defence that gave them very little breathing space.  Unlucky not to score.

 

·       Haron – Classy player with very clever movements off the ball.  Led the line very well.

 

·       Derrick – Very tricky dribbling down the right flank which was needed by the team to drag the pitch and play.  But like Alvin, was a bit unlucky not to score.

 

·       Elvis – Marshalled the defence well with impeccable reading of the match. 

 

·       Ron – Carrying a foot injury, Ron did not let it affect his play as he dished out several tackles and closing down.  The sliding recovery tackle was just like Mark Lawrenson.

 

·       Soon – Typical workhorse-like performance ala Jordan Henderson.  Covered every blade of the big pitch which was very handy and proved to be a huge morale-booster to the team.

KJ inspires ARFC's 4-3 victory

 Playing at the magnificent pitch at Westwood Sec Sch for the 2^nd consecutive Sunday at 3 pm, ARFC showed tremendous determination and never-give-up spirit to edge out Mixed FC 4-3.

 

ARFC was hit by poor responses and had to call up 3 guest players.

 

ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-1-1 line-up:

 

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

 

 

ARFC came out firing in all cylinders and the opponents simply had no answers on how to contain ARFC.

 

Within 7 mins, ARFC created 3 golden chances but were also spurned.  First, KJ wriggled his way down the left flank and crossed to the far post.  The ball found its way to Guoxiong on the right flank, with Chun Haw making an incisive run into the box.  Guoxiong read his move perfectly and passed a low ball to him.  Chun Haw then turned and hit a crip shot that beat their GK easily but unfortunately, it struck the post and out for a goal kick.

 

Darren then embarked on a Andy Robertson-like overlapping run that left their right back chasing after his shadows.  However, Chun Haw only managed to slice a header just wide from Darren’s hanging cross.

 

From Soon’s sumptuous through ball, Chun Haw just could not get a clean connection but his meek shot was easily gathered by their GK.

 

ARFC was then made to pay for its profligacy when the opponents from a quick counter-attack. 0-1

 

The goal only seemed to spur ARFC on and within 3 mins, ARFC equalised.  From the right, Kerwin sent in a missile-like long throw, al Rory Delap, into the box.  Chun Haw jumped together with the defender and the ball was somehow back-flicked into goal.

 

Initially, it was adjudged to be an own goal but after review, the goal was credited to Chun Haw.  1-1 and this was Chun Haw’s 101^st ARFC goal.

 

5 mins later, ARFC took the lead.  Sebastian won the ball in the middle of the pitch, and passed to Alvin who was lurking outside the box.  With a great first touch, Alvin shifted the ball to his right, looked up and lofted a high curling ball over their GK that saw the ball landed nicely at the top right corner of the goal.  2-1 and this was Alvin’s 339^th ARFC goal.

 

Strangely enough, the opponents scored another break-away goal to go into the half at 2-2.

 

7 mins after the re-start, the opponents scored yet another goal from a counter-attack.  2-3 now.

 

At this juncture ARFC was staring at another defeat on the same pitch.  

 

Refusing to give up, ARFC warriors all stepped up a notch, epitomised by Soon who gave his all till he cannot run anymore.

 

Wei Lit delivered a great pass to Chun Haw who carried the ball into the box on the right.  With their GK to beat, Chun Haw inexplicably drilled the ball into the side-netting.

 

Nigel, who did well as a striker, was brutally hacked down just outside the penalty box.  Kerwin stepped up but fired his shot into the wall.  Picking up the rebound, his 2^nd shot was also blocked by the wall.

 

Mins later, Sebastian nearly drew level.  After a series of shots and blocks, the ball was bouncing just at the edge of the centre of the penalty box.  Sebastian latched onto the ball and smashed a jumping volley that saw the ball just whistled past the right post. Unlucky!

 

At this point, Soon succumbed to his slight injury and was replaced by Guoxiong.  This provided a pivotal moment as Guoxiong would now sit deep in centre mid, allowing Sebastian to attack at will.

 

ARFC continued to attack but to no avail until KJ produced a moment of magic and inspiration.  The ball was way overhit to him down the left.  However, KJ did not give up and continued to chase after the ball.  He won the ball not once but twice, and KJ was now almost at the left touchline.  KJ then passed to Alvin who then squared to Sebastian who was standing at the top of the penalty box.  Sebastian sold their defender with a dummy and was faced with another defender, with the unmarked Guoxiong calling for the ball on the right side.  

 

Sebastian wanted to pass to Guoxiong but after hearing a call from Chun Haw, who was drifting in from the left, Sebastian did a reverse no-look pass to him.  Picking up the ball, Chun Haw moved towards his right and their GK quickly charged out. Using his experience, Chun Haw tried to round their GK but was hacked to the floor. 

 

Up stepped Sebastian duly stroked the ball down and low to the usual spot, i.e bottom left corner.  3-3 and this was Sebastian’s 124^th ARFC goal.

 

The match looked headed for a draw but Alvin had other ideas.  In the dying moments of the match, Alex won a ball on the right and passed to ZZ. Running in with the ball into the right hand side of the penalty box, ZZ then squared the ball to Alvin. Killing the ball with a brilliant touch, Alvin swivelled and planted the ball home, off the left post, for the winning goal.  4-3 and this was Alvin’s 340^th ARFC goal.

 

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to KJ and Alvin.