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.
