ARFC was supported by lovely children of Elvis, Wayne’s extremely handsome son and likely lady-killer in 20 years’ time (Lucas) and John (Delon’s father).
John deserved a mention as he was actively cheering ARFC on from the side and also helping to keep track of the time. Good man!
Special credit to Haron too as he gamely started as GK before all our substitutes (including guest GK) were late.
ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:
Jersey No.: | Name | Position |
9 | ARFC Scoring Legend Haron | Goalkeeper |
16 | Marauding Guoxiong | Right back |
20 | Composed Eng Lai | Sweeper |
15 | Towering Toh | Stopper |
8 | Versatile Allan | Left back |
xxx | Minghui (guest) | Right mid |
7 | Influential Sebastian (captain) | Centre Mid |
28 | Hard-man Tjioe | Centre Mid |
30 | Divine Delon | Left Mid |
5 | Energetic Kerwin | Striker |
18 | Wonder Wayne | Striker |
Substitutes: | ||
2 | Remarkable Rashid |
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3 | Astute-reading sweeper Elvis |
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6 | Unbeatable Darren |
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19 | Skillful Wei Lit |
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23 | Talented Chun Haw |
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xxx | Jeremy (guest GK) |
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Missing In Action: | ||
4 | Dynamic Soon |
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10 | Sublime Khim |
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11 | Steely Tze Ern |
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14 | Combative Ron |
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17 | Nippy Kenny |
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21 | Devastating Dominic |
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24 | Fearless Chong Ghee |
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26 | Rampaging Raymond |
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66 | Vintage Chua |
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77 | Robust Hong Lee |
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79 | Enigma Enoch |
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88 | Talisman Derrick |
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98 | Impeccable How Meng |
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99 | Powerful Alvin |
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ARFC made a fiery start and missed 3 golden chances within the first 10 mins, with Tjioe, Kerwin, and Wayne squandering them all.
The opponents then scored from a quick counter-attack. 0-1
ARFC equalised 3 mins later with a really superb team move. From the left, Delon, who had a good game, wriggled his way at the left before squaring the ball to Sebastian who was standing outside the box. Shaping to shoot, Sebastina fooled their covering defender before spreading the ball out wide right to Minghui. Looking up, Minghui chipped in a great cross and Kerwin did the rest by steering the ball home. 1-1 and this was Kerwin’s 13th ARFC goal.
Strangely enough, ARFC conceded another 2 goals to trail 1-3 at the end of the 1st 30-min half.
In the 2nd 30-min half, ARFC made a string of substitutions with all subs coming in.
Chun Haw then sparked the comeback when he demonstrated how good he was with a exquisite through grounder which Wei Lit timed his run to perfection from deep. Taking a great first touch, Wei Lit beat their onrushing GK with much aplomb for his 22nd ARFC goal, putting him on level terms with How Meng. 2-3 now.
Chun Haw then levelled things up at 3-3 when he stole in at the far post to nob home a header from Rashid’s world-class precise corner on the right. This was Chun Haw’s 117th ARFC goal, matching Hee’s goals for ARFC.
ARFC then proceeded to miss a string of chances to end the 2nd 30-min half at 3-3.
With 2 mins from the start of the last 30-min half, ARFC finally took the lead it richly deserved. Rashid was again the architect when his cross from the left found his way to Wayne who steered the ball home from close range. 4-3 and this was Wayne’s 61st ARFC goal.
Wayne’s reward for scoring? He was replaced by Haron. [Actually, Wayne needed to leave early as requested.]
The substitution reaped dividends immediately. Kerwin powered his way down the right flank before fizzing in a low ball across goal. Initially, Haron was just 0.99 seconds too late in sliding in but luckily the ball found its way to Delon at the far side. Delon placed the ball back across goal and Haron recovered to bundle the ball into the empty net despite their GK’s last-ditch attempt to save the ball.
5-3 and this was Haron’s 282nd ARFC goal.
Chun Haw then hit an audacious over the top ball for Kerwin to dash in from deep down the right flank. Beating their left back, Kerwin was almost at the touchline but he somehow managed to place the ball inside the GK’s near post from an acute angle. 6-3 and this was Kerwin’s 14th ARFC goal.
From Haron’s lay-on outside the box, Sebastian lofted a looping ball that almost dipped into goal but their GK quickly back-pedalled and tipped the ball over for a corner.
Sebastian was not to be denied 3 mins later with probably the goal of the match.
Darren and Delon combined down the left before Delon passed the ball to Sebastian who was standing outside the box. Instead of striking the ball ala Steven Gerrard style, Sebastian stopped the ball, looked up and placed the ball to the top right hand corner ala Xabi Alonso’s style.
As the ball left his right foot and even before the ball hit the back of the net, Sebastian already shouted “Ya Lah”, as sign of how well the ball was struck and full confidence that it will beat their GK. True enough, despite their Gk’s flying dive, the ball hit the top right hand corner.
7-3 and this was Sebastian’s 131st ARFC goal.
The opponents then pulled a goal back. 7-4
Kerwin then notched his first-ever ARFC hat-trick when he fired home from just outside the 6-yard area on the right. 8-4 and this was Kerwin’s 15th ARFC goal, moving him level with Elvis’ 15 ARFC goals.
Kerwin then rounded off a perfect night for ARFC when he scored an almost identical goal when he thumped home another venomous shot that gave their GK no chance at all! 9-4 and Kerwin is now on 16 ARFC goals.
All in all, ARFC did very well and did not let their heads dropped despite trailing 1-3.
Other than Kerwin, Allan was also deservingly the joint Man-of-the-Match, with both Guoxiong and Wei Lit coming very close.
We are also slowly seeing the best of both Chun Haw and Delon which can only do ARFC lots of good!
Of course, old guards like Tjioe (with this tenacious closing down of opponents) and Elvis (stabilised the defence when he came on) also did very well.
Our guest GK, Jeremy, also performed admirably with some world-class saves. A good GK to have, if Derrick continues to be injured.
