Despite playing against young, fit and fast team (name unknown) and playing under humid weather on 18 Jun 2023 at 5 pm at East Spring SS, ARFC eased past them 5-2 to maintain its unbeaten start (only for Open team matches) in 6 matches in 2023.
ARFC was supported by:
Clara – Guoxiong’s girl
Tiara, Dylan and Gina – Elvis’ family
Kaylene – Chun Haw’s sister
ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:
Jersey No.: | Name | Position |
xx | Nelson (guest GK) | Goalkeeper |
66 | Vintage Chua | Right back |
3 | Astute-reading sweeper Elvis | Sweeper |
20 | Composed Eng Lai | Stopper |
19 | Skillful Wei Lit | Left back |
16 | Marauding Guoxiong | Right mid |
7 | Influential Sebastian (captain) | Centre Mid |
23 | Talented Chun Haw | Centre Mid |
10 | Sublime Khim | Left Mid |
31 | Wonder Wayne | Striker |
99 | Powerful Alvin | Striker |
Substitutes: | ||
14 | Combative Ron |
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xx | Derrell (guest player) |
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xx | Syed (guest player) |
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xx | Allan (guest player) |
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xx | Chong Ghee (guest player) |
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Missing In Action: | ||
1 | Agile Zhi Chong |
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2 | Remarkable Rashid |
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4 | Dynamic Soon |
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5 | Energetic Kerwin |
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6 | Unbeatable Darren |
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8 | Precocious Javier |
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9 | ARFC Scoring Legend Haron |
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11 | Speedy Hee |
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13 | Talisman Derrick |
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15 | Towering Toh |
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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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28 | Hard-man Tjioe |
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29 | Flying Fremont |
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77 | Dependable Jinzhong |
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78 | Steely Tze Ern |
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98 | Impeccable How Meng |
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The obviously younger and fitter opponents started the match furiously and forced ARFC to its back foot in the opening 5 mins. Fortunately, Elvis and Eng Lai did very well to marshal their defence line and caught them off-side on a couple of occasions.
The opponents then scored from a direct free-kick in the 15th min to lead 1-0.
By now, ARFC started to impose its authority in the match an equalised 5 mins later.
Wayne did extremely well to force a corner and from the ensuing corner, Sebastian’s delivery into the box was laser-sharp and Chun Haw rose highest to nod the ball home for his 108th ARFC goal. 1-1
For this goal, Wayne deserved a mention as he also leaped at the near post to distract their defender and goalkeeper.
ARFC then earned a free-kick after Alvin was held back about 27 metres away from their goal.
From the free-kick, Sebastian hit a vicious bending and swerving ball over the wall to the far post but with their GK well beaten, the ball struck the cross-bar and bounced out which was cleared away by the opponents. Unlucky!!
ARFC was not denied in the next free-kick. From the right, Sebastian whipped in a cannon for our strikers at the far post but incredulously, their left back charged in like a striker and headed the ball powerfully into his own net. 2-1 now and this was the 41st own goal conceded to ARFC since its formation in Jun 1991.
ARFC then made a series of substitutions to give all 5 subs a run-out and the impact was felt almost immediately.
Chong Ghee floated in a cross from the left which Derrell controlled expertly. He then dribbled past their defender before firing the ball home for his 2nd ARFC goal. 3-1.
In the second half, ARFC extended its lead in the 60th min with Guoxiong playing a key role. Taking over the free-kick duty as Sebastian had departed the match for Singapore’s match against Solomon Islands, Guoxiong chipped the ball to the far post which Chong Ghee brought the ball down well like Marcus Rashford. Instinctively, Chong Ghee placed the ball to the bottom left corner that gave their GK no chance at all. 4-1 and this was Chong Ghee’s debut goal for ARFC.
The opponents then pulled a goal back in the 70th min. 4-2 now.
In the last minute of the match, ARFC put the result to bed with a penalty converted by Elvis.
From a corner, Chun Haw played a quick short one to Wei Lit who made a reverse pass back to him. Chun Haw brought the ball into the box menacingly before being menacingly chopped down by their defender. Elvis stood up and coolly slotted the ball to the left and wrong-footed their GK for his 16th ARFC goal. 5-2
Records showed that Elvis’ last goal for ARFC was on 12 Aug 2018 when he netted in a 2-2 draw against ‘Chill Pill’ at Naval Base SS.
For this match, I would like to highlight 3 ARFC warriors:
· Eng Lai – Despite being at least 30 years older than all the opponents, Eng Lai did not let them get past him once at all. Super player
· Wei Lit – Powerful display at left side (especially in the second half) that would make Khim (ARFC’s best player) beaming with pride. Kept on bringing the ball and the opponents kept on hacking him to the floor but to no avail.
· Wayne – Won so many first aerial balls that allowed our strikers and midfielders to latch onto the second balls.
