Khim nets ARFC's 2400th goal in 8-3 victory

 On the back of a scintillating performance, ARFC overcame a brief period of complacency in the first half to defeat ACE/MOM team 8-3 on 7 May 2023 at 5 pm at Punggol SS.  

 

ARFC was supported by:

 

Clara – Guoxiong’s girl

Tiara, Dylan and Gina – Elvis’ family

Dylan – Khim’s son

 

ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:

 

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
13	Talisman Derrick	Goalkeeper
66	Vintage Chua	Right back
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis	Sweeper
15	Towering Toh	Stopper
19	Skillful Wei Lit	Left back
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
4	Dynamic Soon	Centre Mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left Mid
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron	Striker
31	Wonder Wayne	Striker
Substitutes:
5	Energetic Kerwin (late)
14	Combative Ron
20	Composed Eng Lai
23	Talented Chun Haw (late)
28	Hard-man Tjioe
99	Powerful Alvin
Missing In Action:
1	Agile Zhi Chong
2	Remarkable Rashid
6	Unbeatable Darren
8	Precocious Javier
11	Speedy Hee
17	Nippy Kenny
18	Determined Huiming
26	Rampaging Raymond
27	Left-foot wizard Kejendran (KJ)
29	Flying Fremont
77	Dependable Jinzhong
78	Steely Tze Ern
98	Impeccable How Meng

 

 

ARFC made a sizzling start and Haron almost put ARFC ahead within 77 seconds.   Khim’s low cross from the left byeline found him unmarked at the far post but with the goal gaping, Haron inexplicably side-footed the ball just slightly wide.  Unlucky!

 

Haron soon made amends 2 minutes later.  A quick throw-in on the left from Wei Lit found Wayne holding the ball up well.  Wayne made a quick pass to Khim who then executed a perfectly-weighted low ball down the left for Sebastian to run in from deep.  From almost the left touch-line, Sebastian crossed high into the box and Haron reacted quickest when he nipped in to touch the ball home before their GK could reach the ball.  Wonderful inter-play from the players and astute anticipation from Haron.

 

1-0  and this was Haron’s 278^th ARFC goal.

 

ARFC doubled its lead 5 mins later.  Picking up the ball on the right side of the pitch, Guoxiong lofted in a precise cross which was trapped by Toh who then swivelled and scored with a delicious right-foot volley while sitting on the ground.  World class! 

 

2-0 and this was Toh’s 107^th ARFC goal moving him past Chun Haw’s 106 goals and into 7^th position in ARFC’s all-time leading scorers list.

 

However, ARFC allowed its opponents to score 2 quick goals from their quick-silver and nippy striker.  2-2

 

ARFC did not panic and regained its lead.  A long cross from Khim found Tjioe whose cushioned header was picked up by Alvin, who had just came on for Haron, just inside the penalty box.  Without breaking his stride, Alvin instinctively poked the ball home for his 351^st ARFC goal. 3-2

 

The opponents then equalised from a free-kick. 3-3

 

With 3 mins to go, ARFC restored its lead after it was awarded a free-kick when Tjioe was fouled about 40 metres from goal.   Kerwin stepped up and fired in a cannon, ala Ronald Koeman, that went right through their GK.  4-3 and this was Kerwin’s 6^th ARFC goal. 

 

4-3 at half-time.

 

In the second half, ARFC continued to stamp its authority in the match and extended its lead with yet another free-kick screamer from Kerwin.

 

From the left, Kerwin thundered in a free-kick that was so powerful that it was spilled by their GK.  5-3 and this was Kerwin’s 7^th ARFC goal, putting him on level terms with Jinzhong.

 

ARFC then made a brilliant team passing and movement that almost resulted in a goal.  Soon spread the ball out to the right for Wei Lit who then released Chun Haw with a well-weighted ball to the right flank.  Chun Haw eluded their left back and fizzed in a low ball across goal but Alvin, who ghosted in to the far post, was just 0.77 seconds late from tapping the ball home.  Unlucky!

 

Soon then capitalised on a calamitous mistake from their defender whose back pass was intercepted by Soon who swept the ball past their bewildered GK.  6-3 and this was Soon’s 95^th ARFC goal.

 

Soon then soon grabbed his brace in the match.  A superb long kick from Derrick saw Tjioe won the header in midfield.  Alvin picked up the second ball and hit a fantastic slide-rule pass down the left.  Soon ran in from deep before slotting home with his left foot. 7-3 and this was Soon’s 96^th ARFC goal.

 

Elvis then made a brilliant interception to deny their quick-fire striker from scoring again.

 

Wayne then made a brilliant move when he slalomed his way down the right.  Hearing Sebastian’s call for the ball in the box, Wayne found him but Sebastian dummied the ball after hearing a call from Wei Lit.

 

With the opposing defenders caught out by Sebastian’s dummy, Wei Lit could only placed the ball that was smothered by their GK.  Unlucky.

 

ARFC then wrapped up the win from a corner routine on the left.  Sebastian called for Khim before whipping in the corner.  With almost telepathic understanding, Khim moved in, latched on to the ball and flicked the ball home with his right foot.

 

8-3 and this was Khim’s 63^rd ARFC goal.  It was also ARFC’s 2400^th goal since its inception in Jun 1991.

 

 

A good team performance.  Wonderful.

 

 

ARFC in pulsating 3-3 draw against CJC Alumni team

 

Playing on a Saturday, which was rare, against the CJC Alumni team on 4 March 2023 at 5 pm, ARFC let slipped a 2-0 goal to draw 3-3 in a pulsating match.

 

ARFC was supported by:

 

Tracie, Clara and Claris – Guoxiong’s family

Tiara, Dylan and Gina – Elvis’ family

Miki and Lucas – Wayne’s family

Lien Dinh – Zhi Chong’s “mysterious” beau

 

ARFC took to the pitch with this 4-4-2 line-up:

 

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

 

 

Both CJC Alumni and ARFC were evenly matched in the opening exchanges, and chances were at a premium as both sides were sizing and probing each other with some passes and movements.

 

In the 20^th min, ARFC replaced Eng Lai and Soon with Toh and Chua respectively, with Guoxiong moving up to right midfield as Chua took the right back slot.  Chun Haw moved to the centre to partner Sebastian. 

 

The substitutions almost reaped dividends immediately.  Sebastian’s corner from the left was met by the impressive Toh but his header was saved by their GK.  In the ensuing rebound, Haron reacted quickest but his header was also saved by their GK.  Unlucky.

 

ARFC was not to be denied 3 mins later.  Wei Lit, Chun Haw and Haron did well to pressure the opponents into losing the ball.  The ball was picked up by Wayne just right outside the box at the central area.  Instead of shooting, Wayne showed good awareness by spreading the ball out wide to Guoxiong at the right flank, and moved into the penalty box. Killing the ball with a great first touch, Guoxiong delivered a precise cross ala David Beckham and Wayne met the ball beautifully with a world-class glancing header ala Ruud van Niesterooy that saw the ball nestled nicely at the bottom far post with their GK rooted to the spot. 

 

After scoring the goal, Wayne dashed all the way to his lovely wife Miki and even lovelier son Lucas and kissed each of them 7 times on their cheeks.

 

1-0 and this was Wayne’s 56^th ARFC goal.

 

ARFC then suffered a blow when Haron had to limp out after injuring his right leg.  Kerwin then came on to replace him upfront.

 

Kerwin then hi a long range shot from just inside his half but the ball sailed slightly over the bar.

 

Soon then came back on to replace Sebastian with about 7 mins to go before the break.

 

Haron could not reappeared in the second half due to the injury.  Luckily, Tze Ern turned up.

 

ARFC continued its dominance from the re-start.  Darren sent in a world-class ball from the left, ala Andrew Robertson, and Chun Haw made a great move by getting in between their centre backs in the box.  He brought the ball down elegantly, ala Dennis Bergkamp, but his shot was turned away by their GK’s out-stretched legs for a corner.

 

From the resulting corner, Kerwin whipped in a venomous ball that eluded a sea of opponents, and Toh popped up in the penalty box to thump home a fierce volley that gave their GK no chance at all!

 

What a brilliant corner routine!

 

2-0 and this was Toh’s 105^th ARFC goal.

 

Zhi Chong then made a couple of great saves to preserve the 2-goal lead.

 

In a calamitous 15-min spell, ARFC went to sleep and was duly punished by conceding 3 goals!  

 

Particularly, ARFC was seemingly affected by the first goal which was a VERY CLEAR off-side as the scorer was at least 5 metres off-side when the ball was played in which even the opponent’s substitutes agreed as well. 

 

Despite the set-back ARFC did not give up and continue to press for an equaliser which came with about 2 mins to go.

 

Sebastian received a ball in the centre of the park, and switched the ball out wide to Chun Haw.  Looking up, Chun Haw fizzed a wicked cross to the far post, and of all people, Toh popped up in the box to head the ball home for his brace in the match!   Fantastic goal and assist!!!!

 

3-3 and this was Toh’s 106^th ARFC goal. 

 

The last time that Toh netted a brace was on 3 Nov 2019 when ARFC won 4-2 against Old Men United at the Pasir Ris Crest SS pitch.

 

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Toh and Chun Haw.