ARFC kicked off 2024 season with hard-fought 5-2 win

 

Kicking off its season after a 4-month long winter break, ARFC had to endure an excruciating killer weather before dismissing the challenge of Dynasty Classic FC 5-2 at the SIA Sports Club pitch. 

 

ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:

 

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
13	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
66	Vintage Chua	Right back
28	Hard-man Tjioe	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left back
20	Composed Eng Lai	Right mid
4	Dynamic Soon	Centre Mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left Mid
23	Talented Chun Haw	Striker
xx	Divine Delon	Striker
Substitutes:
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis
5	Energetic Kerwin
14	Combative Ron
19	Skillful Wei Lit
99	Powerful Alvin
Missing In Action:
1	Agile Zhi Chong
2	Remarkable Rashid
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
11	Speedy Hee
16	Marauding Guoxiong
17	Nippy Kenny
18	Determined Huiming
26	Rampaging Raymond
27	Left-foot wizard Kejendran (KJ)
29	Flying Fremont
31	Wonder Wayne
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern
98	Impeccable How Meng

 

ARFC was happy to see the appearance of Derrick after his recent weight issues.

 

Both teams were clearly affected by the extreme weather and were evenly-matched in the opening exchanges.

 

ARFC then conceded a goal to trail 0-1.

 

In the 27^th min, ARFC struck back after Kerwin’s corner found Tjioe in the box.  With a sharp turn, Tjioe’s effort struck the cross bar with their GK well beaten.  Thankfully, the rebound fell to Khim who cleverly and instinctively sent a looping header from near the edge of the penalty box over their GK.  1-1 and this was Khim’s 65^th ARFC goal.

 

A perfect way to celebrate his 47^th birthday (a day before the match) too!

 

Derrick then charged out and executed a 2-fisted punch of the vicious ball from their corner under the challenge of 3 opponents.

 

Despite some more chances with Chun Haw and Kerwin hitting some long-range shots, ARFC could not score again and was in fact indebted to Chua who managed to stop their quick counter-attack when he intercepted the ball in a 3-to-1 situation.

 

The first half ended 1-1.

 

When play resumed, ARFC conceded another goal to trail 1-2.

 

ARFC did not panic at all and continued to press for an equaliser which duly arrived 7 mins later.

 

From his left back position, Darren moved up before passing the ball inwards to Sebastian near the half-way line.  With Wei Lit calling for the ball and Soon making a left diagonal run to the left side, Sebastian produced a slide-rule pass that saw both Wei Lit and Alvin dummied and allowed the ball to roll through.  Soon picked up the ball down the left side and squared the ball across for the impressive Kerwin to swop in from right into the 6-yard box and side-footed the ball home!  Impressive team move!!

 

2-2 and this was Kerwin’s 9^th ARFC goal.

 

Kerwin then made another telling contribution when he glided past their right back in the box before being chopped down to the floor.  No need for any VAR there as it was a clear blatant foul.

 

Regular penalty-taker Sebastian then passed up the chance to score by giving the ball to Chun Haw who duly wrong-footed their GK with a well-placed spot-kick.

 

3-2 and this was Chun Haw’s 115^th ARFC goal, putting him on level terms with Derrick, arguably ARFC’s best right winger, which was no mean feat. 

 

Chua then made a world-class recovery tackle to preserve ARFC’s lead when he just managed to nick the ball away from their striker just as the latter was clean through in the box and was about to pull the trigger.   Fantastic defending!

 

Chun Haw then turned creator when his long diagonal ball from the right-back position, ala Steven Gerrard, eluded their defence and Alvin pounced on it by lifting the ball over their GK.  4-2 and this was Alvin’s 365^th ARFC goal.

 

Kerwin then slalomed his way into the box and faced their GK alone. However, his no-look shot hit the GK’s legs and the loose ball rolled to Alvin who was unmarked.  With the wide gaping goal in front of him, Alvin inexplicably blasted the ball to row Z.

 

Alvin then made amends 7 mins later with his 2^nd goal of the match.  Darren and Wei Lit combined brilliantly to pressure their right back into conceding possession to Alvin.  Alvin then powered down the left flank and dribbled into the box.  He then waited for someone to arrive into the box but when that did not materialise, Alvin simply thumped the ball inside the near post.  

 

5-2 and this was Alvin’s 366^th ARFC goal.

 

A good start to 2024!

 

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Chua and Kerwin.