Haron's brilliant brace in undeserved 2-5 defeat

 

Playing its 2^nd Veterans match in 2024, and playing its 37^th Veterans match overall, ARFC Veterans was let down by poor attendance (only 1 sub) which was the main cause of its 2-5 defeat by CAPS FC on 13 Oct 2024 at 9 am at Tampines SAFRA.

ARFC Veterans started with this 4-5-1 line-up:

GK – Derrick

RB – Chua

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Darren

RM – Guoxiong

CM – Tjioe

CM – Sebastian (captain)

CM - Soon

LM – Tze Ern

SC – Haron

Subs:

Alvin 

ARFC Veterans started very brightly with Tjioe finding Haron in the box in quick succession on 2 occasions.  Alas, Haron could not capitalise.

From Toh’s clever flick-on, the ball rolled outside the box but Sebastian just could not keep his shot down when he fired over to row 77.

In another flowing move, Sebastian picked up a ball from the impressive Guoxiong  and faked a shot before releasing Tze Ern who came charging in like a bull from the left. Unfortunately, Tze Ern’s fierce shot struck the left post and out fir a goal kick.

With their first attack of the match, the opponents scored!  0-1.

ARFC Veterans was unfazed and found an equaliser 7 minutes later.  Alvin was the architect as he floated in a sumptuous ball from a free kick on the left.  Both Toh and Darren challenged for the ball which then bounced just right in front of their GK.  Just as their GK was going to catch the ball, Haron had other ideas as he launched himself forward bravely and headed the ball home!! Brilliant courageous goal from Haron.  

1-1 and this was his 16th ARFC Veterans goal, and 282nd ARFC goals overall.

With virtually the last kick of the half, Toh nearly scored after Soon found him just outside the box.  However, Toh volleyed the ball over to row 15.

In the second half, Derrick produced 2 saves to keep the scoreline at 1-1.

in the 57th min, ARFC Veterans took the lead with a smooth team move. 

From the middle of the park, Sebastian hit a slide-rule pass down the right and Guoxiong sprinted in from deep down the right flank.  At the same time, Haron started his run which Guoxiong spotted.  Looking up, Guoxiong hit a perfect sizzling ball from the right and Haron executed a even more perfect move when he expertly placed the ball to the right side of the post, after he glanced that their GK was moving to the left of the post in anticipation.

Their GK was left rooted to his spot from Haron’s clever placing shot ala Mo Salah.

2-1 and this was Haron’s 283rd ARFC goal and 17th ARFC Veterans goal. 

ARFC Veterans was still controlling the match until a pivotal moment when the opponents somehow equalised.

At this juncture, ARFC Veterans was almost totally flat with Chua feeling unwell and Alvin suffering a dead leg. For the last 15 minutes of the match, ARFC Veterans was even down to just 10 players to see out the match.  the Sahara Desert-like weather also did not help at all.

Not meant to be an excuse, but if we just have another 3-4 substitutes, we could have easily won as the opponents is not really that good.

It was hence no surprise that the opponents, comprising at least 4 very young players and with at least 8 substitutes, went on to score 3 more goals to win 5-2.

Man of the Match is Guoxiong.

The sad news is that Chua was admitted to A&E for his condition but the good news is that nothing bad happened in the end.

Thank you all for your kind contribution to Chua!  ARFC Team Spirit!

These are the top 5 scorers only for ARFC Veterans’ 37 matches:

1. Raymond – 19 goals
2. Haron – 17 goals
3. Darren – 13 goals
4. Sebastian – 13 goals
5. Soon – 12 goals

These are the top 5 scorers for all ARFC’s 706 matches:

1. Alvin - 366 goals
2. Haron – 283 goals
3. Blackburn – 164 goals
4. Sebastian – 130 goals
5. Chun Haw – 118 goals

ARFC ran rampage in 8-2 victory after trailing 0-2

Dishing out an all-action all-attacking display, ARFC conceded 2 goals first but stormed back with 8 goals to trump 8-2 against Marine Sunday on 28 Jul 2024 at 3 pm at Sengkang SS. 

ARFC received a crushing blow when Haron had to pull out due to illness.

At the request of the opponents, the match was played in 3 30-min periods. 

ARFC was supported by:

Kai - Kenny’s son;

Tiara, Dylan and Dylan - Elvis’ kids

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
15	Towering Toh (captain)	Stopper
19	Skillful Wei Lit	Left back
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right mid
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Centre Mid
98	Impeccable How Meng	Centre Mid
17	Nippy Kenny	Left Mid
31	Wonder Wayne	Striker
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Substitutes:
5	Energetic Kerwin
6	Unbeatable Darren
7	Influential Sebastian
23	Talented Chun Haw
66	Vintage Chua
xx	Divine Delon
Missing In Action:
2	Remarkable Rashid
4	Dynamic Soon
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
10	Sublime Khim
14	Combative Ron
78	Steely Tze Ern
xx	Jonathan

ARFC was really sluggish and it was no surprise when the opponents scored within 4 mins. 0-1.

ARFC did not wake up at all and in the 10th min, was indebted to Derrick who made a world-class one-on-one save by sticking out a strong right hand to thwart a certain goal. 

ARFC then conceded yet another soft goal in the 15th min.  0-2.

Manager Sebastian have had enough and replaced the entire back-4 with Darren, Kerwin, Chua and Sebastian coming on to replace Wei Lit, Elvis, Toh and Eng Lai.  How Meng dropped now to partner Kerwin at centre back, with Darren and Chua taking up the full back positions.  Sebastian partnered Tjiope at centre mid. 

The changes saw ARFC slowly but surely seizing back control of the match.  

In the 17th min, Alvin’s corner from the left caused mayhem in their box and Darren reacted quickest to the loose ball by stabbing the ball home.    1-2 and this was Darren’s 29th ARFC goal.

In the 20th min, ARFC equalised after Guoxiong was fouled yet again at the right side.   Kerwin stepped up and fired a Ronald Koeman-like free-kick from 40 metres that flew in low and hard to the bottom left corner, giving their GK no chance at all!! 

2-2 and this was Kerwin’s 12th ARFC goal. 

Delon and Chun Haw then came on to replace Guoxiong and Tjioe.

Wayne nearly scored when his shot inside the 6-yard box, after some good work by both Chun Haw and Delon, was miraculously saved at point-blank range by their GK!!  Unlucky Wayne!

Alvin was then fouled in the box but Wayne’s continued his lucklessness when his penalty was saved by their GK who guessed the right way.  

The 1st period ended 2-2.

ARFC took the lead for the first time within 3 mins of the 2nd period. Kerwin’s long throw from the right had the opponents in sixes and sevens, and Chun Haw simply rammed the ball to the roof of the net.  3-2 and this was Chun Haw’s 118th ARFC goal.

With this goal, Chun Haw moved past Hee’s 117 goals to be at 5th position in ARFC’s all-time top scorers’ list.

The top 5 are:

Alvin - 366 goals

Haron - 281 goals

Blackburn - 164 goals

Sebastian - 130 goals

Chun Haw - 118 goals

The 2nd period ended 3-2.

The 3rd period saw ARFC totally dominating the match.

Delon, Tjioe and How Meng pressed the opponents into mistake, and How Meng latched on to the ball before moving into the box and slot past their GK.  4-2 and this was How Meng’s 20th ARFC goal.

ARFC then scored arguably its best goal of the match.  From defending a corner, Delon broke away with the ball and ran to the right mid area. Passes were exchanged between Wei Lit and How Meng before Delon received the ball back.  At the same time, Kerwin was making his way down the left side and was free.  However, Delon did not need him at all as his through pass found How Meng free in the box.  How Meng killed the ball with an exquisite control before firing past their GK.  5-2 and this was How Meng’s 21st ARFC goal.

With this goal, How Meng is now on level terms with ex-ARFC legends, Jiong Jiong and Hock, on 21 goals.

Derrick then came to the fore when he produced 3 excellent saves to totally kill the fire of the opponents.  Incredible goal-keeping!!!

ARFC then scored from yet another counter-attack.  Alvin was the chief architect as he brought the ball from his own half into their half.  His chipped ball was blocked by their GK but Kerwin followed up to slam the ball past their bewildered GK.  

6-2 and this was Kerwin’s 13th ARFC goal.

Kenny then nearly scored but hurried his shot which went slightly wide.

ARFC was not done.  Delon picked up a wild and desperate clearance from their GK about 40 metres on the right side.  With their GK horrendously out of position, Delon duly rolled the ball into the unguarded net for his 2nd ARFC goal.   7-2 now!

With mins to go, ARFC scored its 8th goal in the match.  Kerwin’s long throw-in from the right was so powerful that their GK could only flap at the ball which ended up in the net.  8-2 and the own goal was 44th own goal conceded by ARFC’s opponents all these years.

Strange as it may sound, but the Man-of-the-Match for this resounding victory is Derrick.

Kerwin also deserved special mention for his goals and assists, but more importantly, his versatility in excelling at various positions in the match.

Chua brought much stability with his Cafu-like performance at high back, and Tjioe was a total monster in the middle of the park.