ARFC run riot in 7-1 thumping victory over Pionneer FC

After struggling to score goals last Sunday, ARFC made things right on this Sunday by putting 7 goals past the hapless Pionneer at the very small pitch at Compassvale Sec Sch.

ARFC was supported by Dylan and Tiara (Elvis’ lively children) and Lingzhi (Ron’s beau).

Credit to both Haron and Chun Haw for volunteering to be GK for each half. 

ARFC started with this 4-4-2 line-up:

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron	Goalkeeper
31	Vintage Chua	Right-back
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh (captain)	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left-back
8	Talented Chun Haw	Right Mid
4	Dynamic Soon	Centre Mid
12	Remarkable Rashid	Centre Mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left Mid
66	Wonder Wayne	Striker
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Substitutes:
7	Influential Sebastian
11	Speedy Hee (late)
14	Combative Ron
19	Skillful Weilit
20	Composed Eng Lai
xx	Kerwin
Missing In Action:
2	Unpredictable Blackburn
5	Impeccable How Meng
16	Marauding Guoxiong
17	Nippy Kenny
18	Determined Huiming
21	Rampaging Raymond
28	Hard-man Tjioe
33	Talisman Derrick
45	Commanding Ismail
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern
xx	Javier

Within 77 seconds of the kick-off, ARFC conceded a goal.  0-1

This was probably the fastest goal that ARFC had conceded in its illustrious history.  In fact, the goal was so quick that all the 6 substitutes and fans did not even manage to see the goal!

ARFC then woke up from its slumber and began imposing its authority in the match, with Soon particularly impressive in closing down opponents at every opportunity.

Upfront, Alvin worked tirelessly as he would only play for 30 mins as he had to rush off to home.

Rashid and Khim then began to work their magic with quick neat passes that often caught the opponents off-guard.

ARFC equalised in the 7^th min thanks in large part to Chua.  From his right back position, he challenged for a loose ball near the right centre area.  Betraying his 54 years of age, Chua reached the ball ahead of the much younger opponents and poked the ball aay down the right flank.  Chua continued his overlapping run before sending over a high looping cross to the far post.  Rashid came in and allowed the ball to bounce once before unleashing a stinging drive to the bottom right corner that gave their GK no chance at all.   1-1 and this was Rashid’s 2^nd goal for ARFC.

Rashid’s debut goal came on 20 May 2018 at the Yio Chu Kang SS pitch in a 1-1 draw against Wolf FC.

ARFC led for the first time 7 mins later with a great team goal.  Alvin came forward to receive the ball before passing to Rashid who spotted Khim making a run down the left side.  With his right foot, Rashid lobbed the ball to Khim who headed the ball downwards and goalwards for Chun Haw to run in from the blind side to steer the ball home. 2-1 and this was Chun Haw’s 81^st ARFC goal.

ARFC extended its lead 77 seconds later.  Again, Rashid whipped the ball down the left side for Alvin who held up the ball extremely well. Hearing Khim’s call, Alvin laid the ball on a platter for Khim to simply place a precise grounder beyond the despairing dive of their GK.  3-1 and this was Khim’s 61^st ARFC goal.

ARFC then made a string of substitutions with all 6 substitutes getting a run in the game.

Eng Lai then nearly scored the goal of the season when he brought the ball on the right flank and spotted their GK slightly off position, Eng Lai let fly a 40-metres scorcher which narrowly missed the goal as it hit the side-netting. Unlucky!

ARFC then had stroke of fortune when Alvin and Hee pressured their defence and GK into a grave mistake when their GK cleared the ball against Hee and the ball bounced into goal.  4-1 and this was Hee’s 114^th ARFC goal, putting him on level terms with Sebastian.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC continued its relentless search for more goals which duly arrived 7 mins after the re-start. For the umpteenth today, Rashid hit a searching long diagonal ball all the way to the right.  Soon and their GK both went for the ball but Soon won and poked the ball away from their GK before walking the ball home for his 86^th ARFC goal. 5-1

Chun Haw then produced a world-class diving save to deny their striker.

Kerwin then demonstrated his throw-in prowess when his powerful throw-in from the left was flicked into his own net from their defender. 6-1 and this was the 37^th own goal conceded by ARFC’s opponents.

Chun Haw then made another stunning block to deny the striker again.

ARFC was not done and chalked up its 7^th goal of the match.  Rashid exchanged neat passes with Sebastian before passing to Haron who had made a run upfield.  Receiving the ball, Haron executed a slide-rule pass down the left flank for Darren to embark on his Andrew Robertson-like overlapping run.  Darren then won the duel with their GK who had charged out, and brought the ball inwards.  With an open goal, Darren demonstrated his selflessness and team-work when he passed to the unmarked Wayne who duly thumped the ball home for his 48^th ARFC goal. 7-1 and what a great team play from Darren.

Voting results:

Rashid – 15

Chun Haw – 13

Khim – 8

Soon – 5

Kerwin – 3

Chua – 2

Alvin – 2

Ron – 2

Darren - 1

Kenny ends 7-month goal drought with winner in 1-0 victory

Playing against the Weekenders for the successive Sunday, albeit previous match was by ARFC Veterans, ARFC missed a raft of chances before securing a laboured 1-0 victory courtesy of a brilliant goal from Kenny at the pristine SIA Sports Club pitch.

ARFC was supported by Clara (Guoxiong’s precious), Dylan and Tiara (Elvis’ lively children), Germaine (Alvin’s princess) and Lingzhi (Ron’s beau).

Credit to both Wayne and Haron for volunteering to be GK for each half. 

ARFC started with this 4-4-2 line-up:

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
66	Wonder Wayne	Goalkeeper
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right-back
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh (captain)	Stopper
20	Composed Eng Lai	Left-back
8	Talented Chun Haw	Right Mid
14	Combative Ron	Centre Mid
12	Remarkable Rashid	Centre Mid
11	Speedy Hee	Left Mid
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron	Striker
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Substitutes:
4	Dynamic Soon (late)
7	Influential Sebastian
17	Nippy Kenny (late)
19	Skillful Weilit
31	Vintage Chua (late)
xx	Kerwin
Missing In Action:
2	Unpredictable Blackburn
5	Impeccable How Meng
6	Unbeatable Darren
10	Sublime Khim
18	Determined Huiming
21	Rampaging Raymond
28	Hard-man Tjioe
33	Talisman Derrick
45	Commanding Ismail
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern
xx	Javier

Strangely enough and just like last week, ARFC struggled to come to grips with the hardworking opponents who closed us down fast and challenged for every first and second balls. 

The opponents also threatened our goal but thankfully Elvis came up with several Virgil van Dijk-like interceptions and even dribbled his way out of danger zone on a couple of occasions.

Guoxiong then combined with Chun Haw with a series of one-twos that saw Guoxiong powering down the right flank.  His cross was perfect but somehow Alvin miskicked the ball and stabbed the ball wide in front of goal.

Rashid then crossed to the far post and Haron dashed in from blind side but sent his header slightly over the bar.

With chances at a premium, both teams tested each other.

Hee then requested to make way for Weilit due to tiredness.  At the 20^th min mark, ARFC then made a series of substitutions that saw Soon, Chua and Kerwin replacing Toh, Guoxiong and Eng Lai respectively, with Ron dropped to stopper.

At the 25^th min mark, Haron requested to take a breather and Kenny took his place.

At the 30^th min mark, Sebastian came on for Rashid.

The first half then ended goalless.

ARFC finally grabbed the opener within 77 seconds of the restart.   Kenny showed incredible speed of thought and action when he robbed their dithering sweeper, surged away from him before placing a sumptuous grounder past their stunned GK. 1-0 and this was Kenny’s 84^th ARFC goal.

With this goal, Kenny also ended his 7-month of goal drought for ARFC.  His last goal was on 20 Jan 2019 in a 4-3 victory over LAS FC at Mayflower Sec Sch.

Wayne then missed a few chances while Hee connected superbly with Kenny’s long hanging cross from the right but his header was saved.

Weilit then almost won a penalty when he was hacked down but the referee failed to spot the clear foul.

In the 67^th min, ARFC produced the move of the match. From his right-back position, Guoxiong passed to Sebastian who had asked for the ball.  Sebastian then sold a little dummy to the opponents by allowing the ball to go through his legs to Rashid who was behind him.  Rashid returned the pass to Sebastian who hit a slide-rule pass down the right for Kenny to dash in. Kenny then squared in to Wayne who was unmarked but Wayne sidefooted the ball just 0.77 wide of goal. Unlucky but what a smooth move ala Liverpool.

ARFC was then indebted to Guoxiong when he headed the ball off the line ala Ashley Cole in the 70^th min.

I wish to point out that I thought Kerwin’s touch and control was fantastic in this match.  He could be a potential long-term successor to Darren at left-back.

Voting results:

Guoxiong – 14

Kenny – 10

Ron – 9

Rashid – 7

Chua – 4

Weilit – 4

Elvis – 3

Tong gave himself a belated birthday present with a goal in 2-1 victory

Playing its 22^nd Veterans match on 11 Aug 2019 at 5 pm at the St. Patrick’s School pitch, ARFC Veterans edged out The Weekenders 2-1 courtesy of a late penalty from Sebastian.

ARFC Veterans was watched by Lingzhi (Ron’s beau), Yanxiu (Huiming’s wife), Tiara/Dylan (Elvis’ children), Reyes and Rodelle (Darren’s kids).

ARFC Veterans started with this 4-4-2 line-up:

GK – Sunny (Guest GK)

RB – Huiming

Sweeper – Ron

Stopper – Eng Lai

LB – David

RM – Tong

CM – Sebastian

CM – Soon

LM - Darren

SC – Haron

SC – Derrick

Subs:

Chua

Daniel Fonseca

Toh

Elvis

Tze Ern

Strangely enough, ARFC Veterans struggled in the opening exchanges and could not get its rhythm at all. Passes went astray and opponents pegged us back.

From the 10^th min onwards, ARFC Veterans began to get a hold of the match which was epitomised by a 37-metre foray from David who brought the ball upfield from his left-back position before slicing a sweet through ball to Haron just outside the box.  Haron turned and struck a shot at goal but he was incorrectly ruled offside.

7 mins later, Derrick made a diagonal run down the right flank to receive the ball from Tong.  From the right byeline, Derrick sidefooted a lofted ball right to the most dangerous spot (between the 6-yard box and penalty spot).  Haron timed his run perfectly from blind side and met the ball emphatically and powerfully with his forehead.  Every ARFC Veterans was already shouting for goal when their GK miraculously produced a stunning block!

Daniel Fonseca, Chua, Tze Ern, Elvis and Toh then replaced Haron, Huiming, Tong, Ron and Eng Lai at the 20^th min mark.

Chances were at a premium in the first half which ended goalless.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC Veterans started strongly and began to carve out chances.

7 mins after the restart, Toh was dragged down by their defender in the box before he could meet Sebastian’s free-kick.  However, the inept referee, who had a really poor match with his basketball-like refereeing (blew a foul for each and every contact), somehow failed to spot the clear foul.

ARFC Veterans was then indebted to Huiming who produced a stunning block to deny their striker who was going to pull the trigger.  Wonderful old horse!

ARFC Veterans finally drew the first blood in the 55^th min.  From a free-kick on the left, Sebastian curled in a dangerous-looking ball right into the crowded penalty box.  Both Toh and Darren exerted pressure on the opponents by going for the ball.  The ball was only half clear and bounced to Tong who was just 1 metre away.  Instinctively, Tong reacted quickest when he planted a looping header over all the players and the ball nestled nicely at the far post.  1-0 and Tong gave himself a belated birthday present with his 27^th ARFC goal.

Tong’s last goal for the team was on 21 Apr 2018 when he netted in a 4-3 win.

However, ARFC Veterans conceded the equaliser almost immediately. 1-1

ARFC Veterans continued to press hard and was really unlucky on 2 occasions.

First, Sebastian’s long-range free-kick from 47 metres looked to be swirling away from their GK when the ball dipped neat the goalpost but somehow, their GK stuck out a strong hand to palm the ball away for a corner.

Next, From Tze Ern’s wonderful free-kick, Derrick twisted his neck to glance a superb header to the bottom right corner. Everybody was already shouting “GOAL” when their GK denied ARFC Veterans again with a similar save as before to concede a corner.

With 10 mins to go, ARFC Veterans finally regained the lead thanks in large part to Derrick’s cunningness.

Derrick held the ball up brilliantly at the left touchline area in the box.  Sensing that their defender was closing in on him, Derrick waited for him to come near before turning away from him.  Their defender then touched Derrick who fell immediately and the referee atoned for his error by blowing for a penalty.

Sebastian stepped up and placed his usual penalty kick routine to the same spot – bottom left corner.  2-1 and this was Sebastian’s 114^th ARFC goal.

ARFC Veterans then held on for a hard-fought but well-deserved victory.

With this win, ARFC Veterans maintained its 100% record in 2019 – 7 wins out of 7 matches.