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.