Playing its 3rd match in 2022 and 30th 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 2nd half)
Despite having the upper hand in the early exchanges, ARFC Veterans somehow found itself behind in the 7th 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 15th 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 20th 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 2nd 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 125th ARFC goal.
Incidentally, this goal was also the 100th 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’ 100th 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.
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