Playing under perfect weather on a perfect artificial pitch at St. Patrick’s School, ARFC trailed twice before storming back with a 6-4 victory over a very determined and committed Christ Methodist Church team on 18 Sep 2022 at 3 pm.
Due to poor responses, ARFC had to call up 4 guest players at the 11th hour.
ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:
Jersey No.: | Name | Position |
13 | Talisman Derrick | Goalkeeper |
20 | Composed Eng Lai | Right back |
3 | Astute-reading sweeper Elvis | Sweeper |
- | Jeffrey (guest player) | Stopper |
6 | Unbeatable Darren | Left back |
- | Desmond (guest player) | Right mid |
7 | Influential Sebastian (captain) | Centre Mid |
28 | Hard-man Tjioe | Centre Mid |
- | Allan (guest player) | Left Mid |
23 | Talented Chun Haw | Striker |
- | Han Yuan | Striker |
Substitutes: | ||
5 | Energetic Kerwin |
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19 | Skillful Wei Lit |
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66 | Vintage Chua |
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78 | Steely Tze Ern |
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Missing In Action: | ||
2 | Remarkable Rashid |
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4 | Dynamic Soon |
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8 | Precocious Javier |
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9 | ARFC Scoring Legend Haron |
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10 | Sublime Khim |
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11 | Speedy Hee |
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14 | Combative Ron |
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15 | Towering Toh |
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16 | Marauding Guoxiong |
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17 | Nippy Kenny |
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18 | Determined Huiming |
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26 | Rampaging Raymond |
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27 | Left-foot wizard Kejendran (KJ) |
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29 | Flying Fremont |
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31 | Wonder Wayne |
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77 | Dependable Jinzhong |
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98 | Impeccable How Meng |
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99 | Powerful Alvin |
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ARFC started very strongly but was thwarted by the determined opponents where their GK was a giant in goal with several unbelievable saves.
In the 2nd min, Han Yuan and Chun Haw combined well before Han Yuan saw his clean shot saved brilliantly by their GK.
3 mins later, Chun Haw found himself free but his shot was palmed away by their GK.
7 mins later, a well-worked move from the left saw Darren passing to Chun Haw at the left. Chun Haw then played the ball to Sebastian who had picked up a good position just outside the box. Hearing Tjioe’s call for the ball, Sebastian played a grounder into space and Tjioe popped up, ala Paul Scholes, to hammer a thunderous shot that was again denied by their GK.
Wei Lit and Tze Ern then came on for Han Yuan and Allan respectively.
In the 21st min, Desmond produced a pin-point cross from right to the far post. Tjioe sneaked in and connected with a powerful header but their GK was equal to the task with a save. From the rebound, Wei Lit reacted quickest with a shot but their defender blocked the shot on the line.
ARFC then fell behind after the opponents scored. 0-1
Eng Lai, who again had a good game, produced a sizzling ground pass which saw Wei Lit dummied the ball for Chun Haw to run in from deep. Chun Haw’s shot was again blocked by their defender and the ball flew up high just outside the box. Timed to perfection, Sebastian waited for the ball to drop before hitting a swivelled volley, ala Steven Gerrard, that looked to be heading for goal until their GK somehow put out a hand to tip the ball onto the cross bar for a corner! Incredible goalkeeping!
ARFC then equalised with a move from defence. Elvis, who was also imperious throughout, came up with a slide rule pass which Wei Lit won the first challenge for the ball and laid the ball for Tjioe. Tjioe powered into the box, bringing back memories of a powerful midfielder, before picking his spot by calmly side-footing the ball into the near post to beat their diving GK.
1-1 and this was Tjioe’s 69th ARFC goal for ARFC, putting him on level terms as former ARFC scoring great Robin (Elvis’ elder brother).
From the restart, ARFC found itself trailing again after the opponents scored from a fantastic counter-attack move. 1-2
ARFC almost equalised after Tze Ern’s clever low pass pierced right through heir defence. Chun Haw dashed in and beat their GK with a low drive but his effort was contentiously ruled out for offside. Unlucky!!
ARFC then equalised for the 2nd time after some good work from Kerwin. When their GK received a back pass, Kerwin pounced in and closed in on him that saw their GK losing the ball to Kerwin. Standing at almost the left byeline and with almost no angle, Kerwin curled the ball into the far bottom corner for his 4th ARFC goal. 2-2 now!
Kerwin’s last goal for ARFC was on 15 Dec 2019 when he netted in a 4-1 win over ‘Class on Glass’ at Anderson Sec Sch pitch.
In the 55th min, ARFC took the lead for the first time. After picking up a save, Derrick demonstrated quick thinking and reflexes by getting up immediately, heard Chun Haw’s call and pumped a long precise kick, ala Alisson, that bounced over their defence. Licking his lips, Chun Haw swooped in like an eagle and with their GK charging out, Chun Haw lofted a delicate ball over their GK and into the empty net. Superb assist from Derrick and brilliant gaol from Chun Haw. 3-2.
With the goal, Chun Haw moved past Toh (103 ARFC goals) to go into 104 ARFC goals.
ARFC then conceded another goal. 3-3.
Incredulously, and straight from the restart, Chun Haw spotted their GK off his line. In a move that Xabi Alonso would be very proud of, Chun Haw executed an audacious lob from the kick-off spot which sailed over their stunned GK and landed nicely into the net. World class vision and goal!!!!
4-3 and this was Chun Haw’s 105th ARFC goal.
Wei Lit was next to be denied after he ran through at goal after benefitting from a well-paced and well-placed pass from Chun Haw inside our own half. However, their GK was again at his best when he dashed out and spread himself to deny Wei Lit’s effort.
Kerwin nearly notched his brace but his header, off Chun Haw’s cross-field ball, was just slightly wide.
Chun Haw then missed a golden opportunity for a hat-trick after being released by Tze Ern’s exquisite ball. With just their GK to beat, Chun Haw blazed the ball into row Z!
ARFC then extended its lead in the 77th min. Darren, who had a monster of a match, overlapped and his cross was blocked. Daren then passed to Wei Lit who in turn passed to Chun Haw. Hearing a call from Sebastian, Chun Haw laid the ball across to him who was standing just at the top of the box. With a shimmy, Sebastian eluded their defender but his low shot was slightly under-hit and looked to be gathered by their GK. In a fortuitous manner, however, their defender stuck out a foot in his attempt to block the shot but somehow diverted the ball past their own GK. Lucky goal!
5-3 and this was Sebastian’s 127th ARFC goal.
The opponents then showed tremendous grit and determination to pull a goal back. 5-4 now.
ARFC then regained its 2-goal lead with virtually the last kick of the match and probably the move of the match. From his right back position, Chua, who was totally unbeatable, played the ball up to Tze Ern. Holding off 2 opponents, Tze Ern passed the ball out to Sebastian. In a flowing move, Sebastian threaded a fine grounder across to the left side for Wei Lit. Gleefully picking up the ball, Wei Lit moved inwards and his shot was again blocked by their impressive GK, in an eerily resemblance earlier in the match.
This time round, Wei Lit ensured that he came out tops as he picked up the rebound, kept his cool, and thrashed the ball into the net and through the seas of opponents covering the goal mouth area. 6-4 and this was Wei Lit’s 20th ARFC goal, taking him past both How Meng and ex-player Jesmond (both at 19 goals).
Our 4 guest players did very well. Jeffrey was like a Vidic as stopper, with Allan yet again demonstrating his superb versatility by playing well in 3 different positions (left mid, stopper and centre mid). Desmond was brilliant with some coverings and passes, while Han Yuan came up with some good moves though he was still unfamiliar with ARFC and its players.
Man of the Match has to be Chun Haw.
