Tjioe rolled back the years with Scholes-like goal in 5-3 win

Continuing its recent fine form, ARFC shrugged aside the challenge of Redbacks 5-3 with an inspiring performance from Chun Haw.

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

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

With its first attack of the match, Alvin, who had put up very Mane-like performances recently with his incessant pressing, was hacked down in the penalty box.  In the absence of regular penalty-takers Sebastian and Haron, Chun Haw stepped up to hit a decisive side-footer into the bottom left corner. 1-0 and this was Chun Haw’s 83^rd ARFC goal.

The opponents then equalised in the 9^th min. 1-1

At the 20^th min mark, ARFC gave a run-out to all 4 substitutes.

In the 27^th min, off yet another delicious-looking cross from Guoxiong, who has been totally unplayable at right mid, their defender handled the ball which gave the referee the easiest of decisions to make.  Again, Chun Haw took the spot-kick but this time round, he placed the ball expertly and precisely to the top left corner. 2-1 and this was Chun Haw’s 84^th ARFC goal. 

With this goal, Chun Haw is now on level terms with Kenny in the ARFC’s all-time top scorers list.

With 77 seconds to go before the half-time whistle, ARFC extended its lead. Off a Rory Delap-like throw-in from Kerwin, Rashid picked up the loose ball and heard a call from Tjioe.  Rashid then laid a perfectly-weighted ball to Tjioe who then turned back the years when he curled home a powerful and world-class ball, ala Paul Scholes, from outside the box to the bottom right corner that gave their GK no chance at all!  3-1 and this was Tjioe’s 66^th ARFC goal.

In the 70^th min, Tjioe won a header from midfield and the ball fell to Guoxiong. Spotting the run from Chun Haw from deep, Guoxiong played in a perfect ball that saw Chun Haw beating the off-side trap.  With only their GK to beat, Chun Haw unselfishly passed up the chance to score a hat-trick when he squared the ball across for Javier to stroke the ball into the empty net.  4-1 and this was Javier’s 9^th ARFC goal.

What a wonderful team play from Chun Haw, similar to Darren’s similar move to Wayne few weeks ago.  The only difference was Darren got a Mercedes C180 from boss Wayne with that pass, while Chun Haw only received a kiss from Javier.

In the 74^th min, Kerwin, who is living up to his potential to succeed Darren at left-back eventually, won the ball on the left side.  Kerwin then hit a cross-field ball from left to right which saw Javier coming from blindside, beat their off-side trap and planted a firm low shot into the bottom corner of the goal.  5-1 and this was Javier’s 10^th ARFC goal.

The opponents then pulled back 2 consolation goals. 5-3

ARFC in impressive 6-3 over MOE team

Playing for the first time at the magnificent Spectra Sec Sch pitch, ARFC delivered one of its finest performances to defeat the formidable MOE team 6-3.

ARFC was supported by Dylan and Tiara (Elvis’ lively children), Reyes (Darren’s son), Clara (Guoxiong’s daughter), Germaine and Gerrard (Alvin’s kids), and best supporter Lingzhi (Ron’s wife)

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

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

Prior to the match, Rashid warned that the MOE team is a very strong team which regularly featured amongst the winners in the Singapore Government Service Football League Div 1.  Comprising mostly PE teachers, they are very fit, young and have good players who also played for some NFL teams.

ARFC only took the lead within 7 seconds of the match.  The opponents played a careless ball to the right which was picked up by Guoxiong.  Unfortunately, Guoxiong’s cross into the box for the unguarded Javier was slightly over-hit.

ARFC took the lead in the 7^th min with a smooth move.  Receiving the ball from Chua at right back, Rashid threaded a perfectly-weight grounder down the right wing for Guoxiong to run in from deep.  From the bye-line, Guoxiong’s low cross found Soon who was just outside the 6-yard box.  Holding up the ball brilliantly, Soon waited for a call from Weilit before laying the ball on a platter for Weilit to skilfully place the ball into the bottom left corner.  1-0 and this was Weilit’s 15^th ARFC goal.

This was also Weilit’s first goal for ARFC in 2019. His last goal for ARFC came on 14 Jan 2018 in a 5-2 win over the OVA Under-40S team at Victoria School.

With this goal, Weilit also moved up on level terms with both Elvis and Ron at 15 goals for ARFC.

ARFC then doubled its lead 3 minutes later.  A sweeping move down the left saw Weilit doing a couple of step-overs before passing to Javier who was at the top of the penalty box.  Javier dragged the ball away to his right and away from the opponents before letting fly a thunderbolt from outside the box that almost burst the net, giving their GK no chance at all!  2-0 and this as Javier’s 7^th ARFC goal, level with both Eng Lai and Jinzhong.

The opponents then pulled a goal back. 2-1

Sebastian then hit a corner to his usual danger zone but without Toh’s presence, ARFC could not make it count.

ARFC restored its 2-goal cushion in the 17^th min with Guoxiong again the architect.  Galloping down the right flank time, Guoxiong’s hit a dangerous-looking low ball right across goal and Javier nipped to scored with a real cheeky back-heeled goal ala Robin van Persi that stunned all player and spectators alike.  3-1 and this was Javier’s 8^th ARFC goal.

Alvin then replaced Javier who suffered a knock at his ankle, while Hee came on for Weilit. 

2 mins later, ARFC nearly scored when Sebastian hit a precise left foot high ball over their defence.  Alvin dashed in and outmuscled their sweeper but his dinked bal over their GK was clawed away by the GK.  Unlucky.

Ron also took the place of Sebastian with Kerwin taking over Guoxiong.

With 7 mins to go before half-time, Kerwin’s pace took him past their left-back and he delivered a powerfully-hit low cross that saw Alvin lifting the ball over their GK.  With the ball in front of him and GK behind him, Alvin utilised all 777 of his upper-body muscles to hold off their GK while watching the ball slowly rolling towards the empty goal.  Suddenly from out of nowhere, Hee sped in and touched the ball home, thereby scoring his pick durian goal.  4-1 and this was Hee’s 115^th ARFC goal, same number of goals as Sebastian.

In the 2^nd half, ARFC appeared to be complacent and nearly conceded 2 goals.

ARFC then woke up and began its composure and patience play.

The opponents then scored. 4-2.

2 mins later, ARFC restored its 3-goal lead.  From Kerwin’s missile-like throw-in on the right, Alvin leaped like a salmon and despite being surrounded by 3 defenders who were all taller than him, Alvin glanced the ball home for his 317^th ARFC goal 5-2

The opponents then pulled another goal back. 5-3.

7 mins later, ARFC scored its 6^th goal of the match and also the best goal of the match.

From right-back position, Chua passed the ball back to Fremont who then turned the ball over to Darren at left-back.  Darren inched upfield and Javier was smart enough to drop deep from his striker position to ask for the ball. Darren then passed the ball to Javier who heard Guoxiong shouting for the ball.  Javier executed a superb and well-paced ball down the right and Guoxiong outran their left-back.  Everyone was anticipating a cross from Guxiong, especially with Alvin running into the box and waiting to receive the cross, Guoxiong had no other ideas as he fooled their covering defender by faking a cross and cutting in to his left foot before slotting the ball past their GK.  Simply class!  6-3 and this was Guoxiong’s 35^th ARFC goal.

ARFC then closed out the match with controlled pace and discipline.

This was a match where all ARFC warriors played very well.  Every warrior was up to his task and it was really a team effort to see off such a formidable opponents.

In goal, Fremont was solid and came up with a few assured punches despite being challenged by their strikers. Not yet Alisson’s level but certainly at Adrian’s level.

Like Alan Hansen and VVD, Elvis was really commanding as usual and led the line very well.

Eng Lai put in a typical Stephen Henchoz-like display at stopper accounted himself very well despite being up against strikers who were probably his son’s age.

Ron was uncompromising at both central mid and stopper ala Mascherano.

Chua was Rob Jones and Steve Nicol at right-back.  I did not recall a moment when their left winger got past him at all.

Darren was a combination of Jim Beglin and Andrew Robertson at left-back. Faced with their tricky right winger, Darren gave nothing away.

Kerwin was really a version of Trent-Arnold Alexander and Jason McAteer.

Guoxiong at right mid was really a monster as he played just like Dirk Kuyt.

As usual, Soon was at his Fabinho best with so many closing down and breathing down the opponents’ neck.

Rashid’s touches and passes were exactly like Shaqiri, well-measured and timed.

Weilit did well with his Steven McMananam-like performance.

Sebastian was really like Xabi Alonso with his control of the pace and supreme organisation of the team during the match.

Hee was like Mane with his incessant harassing of their defenders and came back a few times to help out with defence as well.

Alvin was like Fernando Torres (the Liverpool version, not the Chelsea one) with his maximum utilisation of both pace and power to cause all sorts of problems for their defence.

Javier is a mix between Salah and Firminho for this match.

There is no voting required for this match as ALL ARFC warriors played very well.