Soon inspired ARFC with 88th ARFC goal in 6-2 win

Powered by Soon’s inspirational drive from midfield, ARFC comprehensively dismissed the challenge of Dark Horse 6-2.

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

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
1	Flying Fremont	Goalkeeper
20	Composed Eng Lai	Right-back
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh (captain)	Stopper
6	Unbeatable Darren	Left-back
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right Mid
4	Dynamic Soon	Centre Mid
8	Talented Chun Haw	Centre Mid
19	Skillful Weilit	Left Mid
11	Speedy Hee	Striker
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Substitutes:
13	Energetic Kerwin
31	Vintage Chua
xx	Precocious Javier
Missing In Action:
2	Unpredictable Blackburn
5	Impeccable How Meng
7	Influential Sebastian
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
10	Sublime Khim
12	Remarkable Rashid
14	Combative Ron
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

Virtually straight from the kick-off, ARFC took the lead when Chun Haw spread the ball out right to Guoxiong.  Killing the ball with a great first touch, Guoxiong laid the ball perfectly into the path of on-rushing Soon who lobbed a world-class ball, ala Matthew Le Tissier over the their GK who was slightly off his line.  1-0 and this was Soon’s 87^th ARFC goal.

In the 15^th min, ARFC doubled its lead with yet another brilliant combination from Chun Haw and Guoxiong. Hearing Guoxiong’s call for the ball down the right flank, Chun Haw pinged a diagonal ball, ala Xabi Alonso, for Guoxiong who sent in a sumptuous ball, ala Andrei Kanchelskis, into the box.  Though Hee just failed to connect with the ball by 11 mm, Alvin managed to trap the ball before calmly despatching into the bottom right corner.  2-0 and this was Alvin’s 320^th ARFC goal.

7 mins later, ARFC put the result to bed with its 3^rd goal in the match.  From Darren’s potent throw-in, Toh did very well by cushioning the ball before showing his vision by passing to the path of Soon.  Taking up the invitation, Soon raced ahead of their defender before placing the ball nicely into the bottom right corner for his 88^th ARFC goal. 3-0.

The opponents then pulled 2 goals back, with their second goal particularly dubious. 3-2

ARFC was furious now.

After a goal-mouth melee, Chun Haw reacted fastest to a loose ball by rifling the ball home for his 85^th ARFC goal. 4-2 which remained the half-time score.

With this goal, Chun Haw has moved ahead of Kenny who was stuck at 84 ARFC goals.

7 mins into the 2^nd half, ARFC regained its 3-goal lead.  Chun Haw started the move by releasing Kerwin down the right flank.  Kerwin burst clear and squared the ball in for Alvin to duly tap the ball into the empty net.  5-2 and this was Alvin’s 321^st ARFC goal.

15 mins later, ARFC scored its 6^th goal in the match. Weilit robbed their defender of the ball before rolling the ball into the path of Javier who had the simplest of tasks to notch his 11^th ARFC goal. 6-2.

With this goal, Javier has moved on level terms with ex-ARFC legends Hwee and Damian at 11 ARFC goals.

ARFC Top 10 Goal Scorers (as at 30 Sep 2019)

1. Alvin - 319 
2. Haron - 270
3. Blackburn - 164
4. Hee - 115
5. Sebastian - 115
6. Derrick - 110
7. Toh - 100
8. Soon - 86
9. Kenny - 84
10. Chun Haw - 84

Alvin powered ARFC Veterans to 4-1 win over DC FC

Playing its 24^th Veterans match on a night match at St. Wilfrid’s pitch, ARFC Veterans dished out a scintillating display to defeat DC FC 4-1.

Due to poor responses, ARFC Veterans had to call up Rashid, Guoxiong and Malcolm as guest players to bolster the numbers.

ARFC Veterans was watched Germaine and Gerrard (Alvin’s kids) and Tiara/Dylan (Elvis’ children).

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

GK – Sunny

RB – Eng Lai

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Darren

RM – Guoxiong

CM – Sebastian

CM – Soon

LM – Rashid

SC – Haron

SC – Alvin

Subs:

Daniel Fonseca

Tze Ern (late)

Chua (late)

Malcolm (late)

ARFC Veterans started very aggressively and within 7 seconds of the kick-off, their defender made a bad pass which was intercepted by Alvin.  However, Alvin shot wide with only their GK to beat.

2 mins later, Haron was next to miss a golden chance after he combined with Alvin to force a mistake from their defender.

3 mins later, from a through pass by Soon, Alvin sprinted clear of their defence but could only shoot straight at their GK.

Sebastian then picked up a ball from outside the box and rifled in a shot that was headed upwards by their defender.  With the ball high up in the air, Sebastian followed through, waited for the ball to drop and despite 3 defenders closing in, he volleyed in a first-timer which was just 0.77 mm over the bar!

After more relentless pressing coupled with so many smooth and quick passes ala Liverpool, ARFC Veterans finally took the lead in the 10^th min. Sebastian brought the ball into the penalty box but his pass was blocked by their 1.82 metre-tall defender.  Sebastian did not give up and read that defender’s move perfectly by intercepting his clearance near the right touch-line.  Hearing Haron’s call, Sebastian squared a low ball across the 6-yard box and Toh fully utilised his bulky body to shield off their sweeper who had wanted to clear the ball which then moved to Haron.  Naturally, Haron did not disappoint as he side-footed the ball home with his left-foot.  1-0 and this was Haron’s 270^th ARFC goal.

ARFC Veterans continued to carve out chances after chances but had to be indebted to Toh in the 21^st min.

From a rare attack by the opponents, their quick striker somehow managed to evade the challenges of both Elvis and Eng Lai and bore down on goal.  Despite being at least 15 metres behind the striker, Toh turned back the years with a stunning world-class block as he chased after their striker.  Just as the striker was about to pull the trigger just outside the 6-yard box, Toh caught up with him and made an out-of-this-world block to concede a corner.   Simply brilliant that left every one stunned and jaws dropping to the ground.

ARFC Veterans then double its lead 1 min later.  From the left, Alvin moved inwards and passed to Sebastian who was standing at the top of the penalty box. Reading Alvin’s move perfectly, Sebastian executed a Firminho-like no-look reverse pass to caught their entire defence off-guard. Alvin ran in from deep, trapped the ball down superbly before poking the ball past their GK in one smooth move for his 318^th ARFC goal. 2-0

Tze Ern, Daniel Fonseca, Chua and Malcolm then came on for Guoxiong, Alvin, Toh and Rashid respectively.  Eng Lai moved to stopper to accommodate Chua at right-back while Darren moved up to left mid leaving the left back position to Malcolm. Tze Ern took over Guoxiong at right mid with Daniel Fonseca replacing Alvin upfront.

3 mins after the substitutions, Haron somehow contrived to miss from an open goal. From the right, Chua passed the ball to Tze Ern and Chua continued his over-lapping run.  Tze Ern then passed to Sebastian who read Chua’s run perfectly and threaded a low ball into this path.  Chua broke clear and with just their GK to beat, Chua showed his selflessness when he squared to the unmarked Haron.  With their GK already out and in la-la land, Haron miskicked a bit and sliced the ball 0.9 mm agonisingly wide of the right post! Unlucky!

 ARFC Veterans then conceded an unfortunate penalty through handball which they scored. 2-1

This was the line-up for the 2^nd half:

GK – Sunny

RB – Chua

Sweeper – Elvis

Stopper – Toh

LB – Malcolm

RM – Guoxiong

CM – Rashid

CM – Tze Ern

LM – Darren

SC – Haron

SC – Alvin

Subs:

Daniel Fonseca

Sebastian

Eng Lai

Soon

7 mins after the re-start, ARFC Veterans extended its lead with a sweeping move which saw the ball switched from the right all the way to the left.  Darren then passed to Alvin who looked up before curling a high ball over their GK and dipped ust below the cross-bar.  3-1 and this was Alvin’s 319^th ARFC goal.

In the 70^th min, Sebastian whipped in a free-kick from the right touch-line but Toh’s powerful header was just 0.15 cm over the crossbar, with Darren just right behind him.

ARFC Veterans then put the result to bed in the 77^th min.  Alvin’s corner was put to the most dangerous zone (between the 6-yard and penalty spot) and both Toh and Darren jumped for the ball. This time round, Darren reached the ball ahead of Toh and their GK and glanced the ball home ala Sami Hyypia.  4-1 and this was Darren’s 25^th ARFC goal.

Out of the 25 goals, Darren scored 13 for the ARFC “Open” team and 12 for ARFC Veterans Team.

His 25 goals also out him on level terms with Kiat Gulam in the ARFC’s All-Time Top Scorers’ List.

As GK, Sunny was largely untroubled and he came up with a few assured catch of the ball.

Eng Lai was sturdy at both right-back and stopper, and had also closed down the opponents on a few occasions high up the pitch.

Elvis was again at his imperious best as sweeper and even made a few dribbles on his own.  At one point, Elvis even dashed up all the way as a striker in their box but the ball did not come to him.

Toh’s stunning recovery block alone would make everyone, including PRCs, salivate. Simply world-class!

Darren only started as left-back due to insufficient defenders at the start.  When moved up as left-mid, he was again unplayable. Capped off a good night with a brilliant header.

Guoxiong was simply fortress at right mid. Marvellous player.

Soon’s energy and closing down was simply too much for the opponents to bear. Wonderful team player.

Sebastian’s 2 assists for the match paved the way for the victory.  Particularly, his Firminho-like assist for Alvin was top class.

Rashid’s touches and passing had every one purring. 

Haron – Very good closing down of their defence through his fantastic positioning. Good Ian Rush-type of goal.

Alvin – Been playing like a Hulk in recent months with his aggressive yet purposeful runs.  The 2 goals were his just rewards.

Tze Ern – His pace and power were clearly superior. A good tidy player.

Chua – No one can believe that he is already 55 years old.  Played like a 25 year-old.  Showed his selflessness with his pass to Haron when he could easily chip the ball over their advancing GK.

Daniel Fonseca – Came up with a few neat touches to team-mates.

Malcolm – A dependable defender with simple play.

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