ARFC preserved unbeaten run in 2023 with last-gasp penalty in 2-2 draw

With a last-gasp penalty, ARFC maintained its unbeaten record in its 7 matches played in 2023 to draw 202 with Boca Seniors on 13 Aug 2023 at 3 pm at OTH pitch.

 

ARFC was supported by:

 

·       Athirah – Haron’s youngest daughter

·       Tricia, Clara and Claris – Guoxiong’s family

·       Tiara, Dylan and Gina – Elvis’ family

·       Germaine – Alvin’s daughter

·       Miki and Lucas – Wayne’s family

·       Lien – Zhicong’s beau

 

ARFC welcomed Fremont back after his long-term hand injury.

 

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

 

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

 

Powered by our twin terror forward line, ARFC pegged its opponent back with Alvin pressing them non-stop while Haron displayed some very nice touches and link-up play.

 

ARFC took the lead in the 17^th min thanks to some inventive play from Khim. 

 

Picking up a long goal-kick in the middle of the park, Khim trapped the ball down and moved towards opponent’s goal.  Spotting Haron standing at the top of the box, Khim played a low ball to Haron and ran into the box.  Killing the ball with a great first touch, Haron returned the ball to Khim whose first touch provided space and evaded their defender.  Just when another defender was closing in on Khim, Khim simply placed the ball with his outside right foot to beat their despairing GK.  Wonderful team goal!

 

1-0  and this was Khim’s 64^th ARFC goal.

 

In the 27^th min, ARFC nearly doubled its lead after Soon and Alvin pressed them at the left side. With their GK out of position, the loose ball fell to Chun Haw whose shot hit the right post and the rebound fell very invitingly to Wayne (who had just replaced Haron) just outside the 6-yard box.  Unfortunately, Wayne’s shot was turned away by their GK.  Unlucky!

 

The half ended 1-0 in ARFC’s favour.

 

In the 2^nd half, the opponents scored 2 break-way goals to lead 2-1.

 

ARFC continued to chase an equaliser and Kerwin was close with 2 shots from distance.

 

Alvin then curled a free-kick but was unable to pose difficulty to their GK.

 

Guoxiong was next to deliver a cross from right wing but to no avail.

 

With about 2 mins to go, ARFC was awarded a penalty.

 

Off Kerwin’s long-throw from the right, their defender handled the ball and the referee had no hesitation to point to the spot.

 

Regular penalty-taker Sebastian then passed up the chance and requested Chun Haw to take.

 

Chun Haw then confidently walked up and despatched the penalty to the left that their GK got a touch but could not keep it out. 

 

2-2 and this was Chun Haw’s 109^th ARFC goal.

 

Man-of-the-Match is jointly given to Ron and Khim. 

ARFC Open team maintained unbeaten start from 6 matches in 2023 with 5-2 win

 

Despite playing against young, fit and fast team (name unknown) and playing under humid weather on 18 Jun 2023 at 5 pm at East Spring SS, ARFC eased past them 5-2 to maintain its unbeaten start (only for Open team matches) in 6 matches in 2023.  

 

ARFC was supported by:

 

Clara – Guoxiong’s girl

Tiara, Dylan and Gina – Elvis’ family

Kaylene – Chun Haw’s sister

 

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

 

Jersey No.:	Name	Position
xx	Nelson (guest GK)	Goalkeeper
66	Vintage Chua	Right back
3	Astute-reading sweeper Elvis	Sweeper
20	Composed Eng Lai	Stopper
19	Skillful Wei Lit	Left back
16	Marauding Guoxiong	Right mid
7	Influential Sebastian (captain)	Centre Mid
23	Talented Chun Haw	Centre Mid
10	Sublime Khim	Left Mid
31	Wonder Wayne	Striker
99	Powerful Alvin	Striker
Substitutes:
14	Combative Ron
xx	Derrell (guest player)
xx	Syed (guest player)
xx	Allan (guest player)
xx	Chong Ghee (guest player)
Missing In Action:
1	Agile Zhi Chong
2	Remarkable Rashid
4	Dynamic Soon
5	Energetic Kerwin
6	Unbeatable Darren
8	Precocious Javier
9	ARFC Scoring Legend Haron
11	Speedy Hee
13	Talisman Derrick
15	Towering Toh
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
78	Steely Tze Ern
98	Impeccable How Meng

 

 

The obviously younger and fitter opponents started the match furiously and forced ARFC to its back foot in the opening 5 mins.  Fortunately, Elvis and Eng Lai did very well to marshal their defence line and caught them off-side on a couple of occasions.

 

The opponents then scored from a direct free-kick in the 15^th min to lead 1-0.

 

By now, ARFC started to impose its authority in the match an equalised 5 mins later.

 

Wayne did extremely well to force a corner and from the ensuing corner, Sebastian’s delivery into the box was laser-sharp and Chun Haw rose highest to nod the ball home for his 108^th ARFC goal. 1-1

 

For this goal, Wayne deserved a mention as he also leaped at the near post to distract their defender and goalkeeper.

 

ARFC then earned a free-kick after Alvin was held back about 27 metres away from their goal.

 

From the free-kick, Sebastian hit a vicious bending and swerving ball over the wall to the far post but with their GK well beaten, the ball struck the cross-bar and bounced out which was cleared away by the opponents.  Unlucky!!

 

ARFC was not denied in the next free-kick.  From the right, Sebastian whipped in a cannon for our strikers at the far post but incredulously, their left back charged in like a striker and headed the ball powerfully into his own net.  2-1 now and this was the 41^st own goal conceded to ARFC since its formation in Jun 1991.

 

ARFC then made a series of substitutions to give all 5 subs a run-out and the impact was felt almost immediately.

 

Chong Ghee floated in a cross from the left which Derrell controlled expertly. He then dribbled past their defender before firing the ball home for his 2^nd ARFC goal.  3-1.

 

In the second half, ARFC extended its lead in the 60^th min with Guoxiong playing a key role.  Taking over the free-kick duty as Sebastian had departed the match for Singapore’s match against Solomon Islands, Guoxiong chipped the ball to the far post which Chong Ghee brought the ball down well like Marcus Rashford. Instinctively, Chong Ghee placed the ball to the bottom left corner that gave their GK no chance at all.  4-1 and this was Chong Ghee’s debut goal for ARFC.

 

The opponents then pulled a goal back in the 70^th min. 4-2 now.

 

In the last minute of the match, ARFC put the result to bed with a penalty converted by Elvis. 

 

From a corner, Chun Haw played a quick short one to Wei Lit who made a reverse pass back to him.  Chun Haw brought the ball into the box menacingly before being menacingly chopped down by their defender.  Elvis stood up and coolly slotted the ball to the left and wrong-footed their GK for his 16^th ARFC goal.  5-2

 

Records showed that Elvis’ last goal for ARFC was on 12 Aug 2018 when he netted in a 2-2 draw against ‘Chill Pill’ at Naval Base SS.

 

For this match, I would like to highlight 3 ARFC warriors:

 

·       Eng Lai – Despite being at least 30 years older than all the opponents, Eng Lai did not let them get past him once at all.  Super player

 

·       Wei Lit – Powerful display at left side (especially in the second half) that would make Khim (ARFC’s best player) beaming with pride.  Kept on bringing the ball and the opponents kept on hacking him to the floor but to no avail.

 

·       Wayne – Won so many first aerial balls that allowed our strikers and midfielders to latch onto the second balls.