Alvin gobbled up all 6 goals in 6-4 win

On the back of an inspirational and sensational 6-goal salvo from Alvin, ARFC emerged 6-4 victors over JMK FC in a see-saw match that saw leads exchanged on several occasions at Westwood Sec Sch on 26 Jun 2022 at 3 pm.

 

ARFC was hit by poor responses and had to call up 3 guest players.

 

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

 

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

 

 

Within 77 seconds from the kick-off, good combination play from Guoxiong, Wei Lit and Chun Haw resulted in Alvin turning sharply but was unlucky as the latter’s powerful shot smacked against the cross-bar.

 

2 mins later, a superb team pressing from Sebastian, Soon, Wayne and Wei Lit forced their defender into a hasty pass to Alvin who was lurking in the box.  Needing no second invitation, Alvin duly toe-poked the ball home for his 341^st ARFC goal.     1-0

 

5 mins later, ARFC doubled its lead.  Soon won a high ball, trapped the ball down expertly and passed to Chun Haw on the right.  Chun Haw then threaded a perfectly-weighted through ball which saw Alvin running in and drilled the ball past their despairing GK.  2-0 and this was Alvin’s 342^nd ARFC goal.

 

Kiat then came in for Sebastian, while Han (Kiat’s brother) took over Alvin.

 

7 mins later, the opponents pulled a goal back. 2-1 now.

 

Wayne then played an excellent one-two with Chun Haw, and broke clear.  However, Wayne could not get a clean connection and his feable shot was saved.

 

The opponents then levelled the score at 2-2 after a quick counter-attack caught out ARFC.  2-2

 

With virtually the last kick of the half, Sebastian delivered a corner from the right and Toh, who was back to his best at stopper, leaped and challenged their GK. Their GK spilled the ball which Toh quickly tried to poke home.   However, their GK made a quick recovery block and smothered the ball.  Unlucky Toh.

 

4 mins after the re-start, the opponents took a surprise lead. 2-3 now.

 

ARFC did not panic and continued its siege at their goal and their efforts were finally rewarded 7 mins later. 

 

KJ, who again had an excellent game, combined well with Han down the left flank.  Han’s shot was blocked and the ball rolled to Sebastian who was standing at the top edge of the penalty box. Sebastian fooled their sweeper by faking to shoot, and side-footed the ball to Alvin on his right.  With their GK at his mercy, Alvin hit a toe-poke shot which their GK got a touch but could not keep out the ball.  3-3 and this was Alvin’s 343^rd ARFC goal and 29^th ARFC hat-trick.

 

The opponents then scored a long-range screamer to regain the lead.  3-4 now and ARFC was now in danger of losing.

 

Guoxiong and Soon had other ideas though. After receiving a ball from Soon on the right, Guoxiong sent in a lovely cross to Alvin who had peeled away to the far post.  Chesting the ball down, Alvin duly rifled the ball into the roof of the net that gave their GK no chance at all.  4-4 and this was Alvin’s 344^th ARFC goal.

 

Fired up, ARFC regained the lead 3 mins later. From the left, KJ passed the ball to Wayne who held the ball up brilliantly.  Spotting Chun Haw’s run down the right wing, Wayne played a grounder to Chun Haw who hit an instant square ball across goal. Alvin ran in and side-footed the ball home for his 345^th ARFC goal. 5-4 now.

 

Next, Wayne nearly scored. After their GK blocked Alvin’s shot, the ball fell to Wayne who was moving in.  Wayne then tried to lift the ball over heir GK who read his move and caught the ball.

 

Kiat then took over Elvis as sweeper.  Elvis played his hearts out and had a good game but was tiring out.

 

ARFC then put the result to bed 3 mins later.  Kiat’s long clearance from his sweeper position saw the ball flying over their entire defence.  Both Alvin and Wayne then charged down at goal and Wayne then moved slightly away.  Alvin picked up Wayne’s gesture and placed the ball past their bewildered GK.  6-4 and this was Alvin’s 346^th ARFC.

 

His 6-goal in a match was also the 2dn time that he had done so.

 

Han was then through on ball but he inexplicably side-footed the ball into the side netting.

 

Alvin could have scored his 7^th goal in the match from Chun Haw’s excellent cross from the right.  However, Alvin outside right Alvinfoot volley was just slightly wide of the right post.

 

Man-of-the-Match has to be Alvin. His double hat-trick took his ARFC hat-trick count to 29, resulting in 99 goals from these 29 hat-tricks.

 

 

Previous matches where ARFC warriors scored 6 goals in a match:

 

·       Robin (Elvis’ elder brother) – won 14-2 on 5 July 1992

·       Robin– won 8-1 on 10 Nov 1996

·       Alvin – won 13-2 on 21 Aug 2011

·       Derrick – won 12-3 on 4 Sep 2011

·       Kenny – won 10-0 on 25 Jul 2015

·       Alvin – won 6-4 on 26 Jun 2022

 

Sebastian nets ARFC Veterans' 100th goal in 30 matches in 2-1 victory

 Playing its 3^rd match in 2022 and 30^th Veterans match overall, ARFC Veterans came from behind to earn a well-deserved 2-1 win over Elites Veterans FC at the magnificent pitch at The Cage@Turf City on 19 Jun (Saturday) at 7 pm.  

 

ARFC Veterans started with this 4-3-3 line-up:

 

GK – Nelson (guest player)

RB – Chua

Sweeper – Eng Lai

Stopper – Toh

LB – Darren

CM – Allan (guest player)

CM – Guoxiong

CM – Sebastian (captain)

LF – Alvin

CF – Haron

RF – Derrick

 

Subs:

 

Elvis (late)

Ron (late)

Soon (arrived in 2^nd half)

 

Despite having the upper hand in the early exchanges, ARFC Veterans somehow found itself behind in the 7^th min after they scored from a quick counter-attack.  0-1.

 

ARFC Veterans did not let the goal affected themselves and actually stepped up a gear or two.

 

After Derrick won a corner on the right, Sebastian’s floated ball saw Toh jumped the highest but just glanced his header about 0.15 mm off the left post.  Unlucky but what a leap from Toh!

 

Eng Lai and Elvis then came up with one vital interception each to keep the opponents at bay. 

 

In the 15^th min, Derrick laid a low ball to Guoxiong who hit a fierce shot from outside the box that was saved by their GK.

 

After more intense pressings, ARFC Veterans finally pulled level in the 20^th min with a wonderful move and movements.

 

Guoxiong sent a ball to Alvin who had pulled away to the right flank.  Though 2 defenders were closing in on Alvin, Alvin held up the ball well, with Chua making a decoy run down the right touchline.  Looking up, Alvin fizzed in a wicked ball which saw Haron dishing out a world-class Luis Suarez-like movement by running towards the near post, thereby pulling a defender with him.  Haron then sold the defender a dummy by letting the ball flew past him to the far post, where Allan popped up to sweep a half volley home ala Sadio Mane for a dream debut goal.  1-1!!

ARFC Veterans continued to attack and was really unlucky not to go into the half with a lead.

 

First, Chua embarked on a lung-bursting run by dribbling the ball up the pitch.  After going past 3 opponents and arriving right outside the right edge of the penalty box, their defender had no choice but to hack Chua down just 0.66 mm outside the box, before Chua can inflict more damage on the opponents.

 

From the resulting free-kick, Sebastian whipped in a ball that looked to be heading to Haron for a goal but their sweeper then somehow headed the ball away.   

 

Nelson then produced a long kick that bounced over their entire defence and Derrick swooped in like an eagle and bore down at goal.  With a great first touch, Derrick controlled the ball well and went round their GK. Just before he can place the ball home, their GK made a miraculous recovery and hoofed the ball out for a corner. Unlucky!

 

Heading into the break, ARFC Veterans received a huge morale-booster when they saw Soon arriving after his 50-km run earlier in the morning.

 

With Soon taking the pitch, ARFC Veterans approached the 2^nd half with extra spring in their steps.  Wanting to hit the opponents quick and hard, Sebastian moved both Darren and Chua up to left mid and right mid respectively, to leverage on their speed and stamina.

 

ARFC Veterans were finally rewarded 13 minutes after the re-start with yet another wonderful team move.

 

Soon passed to Haron who shielded the ball from their defender before passing to Sebastian who was about 7 metres from him.  After passing the ball, Haron made a run into the penalty box and with almost telepathic understanding, Sebastian lofted a delicate ball over their defence.  Haron then produced a Firminho-like moment when he brought the ball down expertly, turned away from a defender and rounded their GK who was late and caught Haron with a late tackle.  Needless to say, it was a stone-wall penalty.

 

Sebastian strolled up and drilled a low diagonal ball to his usual penalty spot, i.e bottom left corner, that left their GK rooted to the spot.  2-1 and this was Sebastian’s 125^th ARFC goal.

 

Incidentally, this goal was also the 100^th goal scored in ARFC Veterans matches. 

 

Ron then produced a out-of-the-world sliding recovery tackle to clear the ball away, with 2 opponents behind him and one in front of him.

 

ARFC Veterans nearly extended its lead with yet another brilliant move.  From his left-mid position, Darren passed to Sebastian in the middle and started his run from deep. Sebastian pinged a ball down the left flank and Darren galloped away down the left flank before delivering a cross to the far right.  Derrick picked up the ball, waited a while before laying a low ball on a platter to Alvin who was standing at the top of the penalty box.  Picking his spot, Alvin bent a wicked curler ala Mo Salah that had goal screaming until their GK produced a flying save to palm the ball out for a corner.  Unlucky what a move!

 

Toh then came up with another towering header that just slightly wide.

 

ARFC Veterans was then indebted to Eng Lai who dished out a good interception with their striker waiting to pounce on a loose ball. 

 

ARFC Veterans then held out for a well-earned and well-deserved 2-1 victory.

 

Including this match, these were all the details for ARFC Veterans’ 30 matches since it was formed in 2017:

 

Year	P	W	D	L	GF	GA
2017	4	3	1	0	21	7
2018	11	8	1	2	29	21
2019	12	11	0	1	43	16
2020	0	0	0	0	0	0
2022	3	2	0	1	7	10
Total	30	24	2	4	100	54

 

These are the top 5 scorers for ARFC Veterans’ 30 matches:

 

1.    Raymond – 18 goals

2.    Haron – 14 goals

3.    Darren – 11 goals

4.    Soon – 10 goals

5.    Sebastian – 10 goals

 

 

·       Nelson – Commanding display with assured handling of the ball.  Almost chalked up an assist with his long kick.

 

·       Chua – His best display thus far, excelling both a right back and right mid.  Energetic display despite his age (58 years old!). Joint Man-of-the Match with Alvin.

 

·       Eng Lai – Again, unbelievable performance for a 58 year-old. Contained their speedy left winger (who was about half his age) with clever positioning.

 

·       Toh – Won all aerial duals and almost scored a header.  Did not even let their young and tall forward get past him at all.  Slowly back to his best.

 

·       Darren – Played like Andy Robertson. Dominated the left flank in the whole match.

 

·       Allan – Very neat performance and his utility was fully utilised during the match as he played at right mid, centre mid, left mid and even left back at various stages of the match.  Rewarded with a well-taken goal.

 

·       Guoxiong – Solid performance with good covering of positions. Played in several positions in the match.

 

·       Sebastian – Improved after a tentative start due to a niggling knee strain.  Gradually controlled the midfield and was rewarded with a goal and ARFC Veterans’ 100^th goal.

 

·       Alvin – Joint Man-of-the-Match with his strong direct running and closing down of their defence that gave them very little breathing space.  Unlucky not to score.

 

·       Haron – Classy player with very clever movements off the ball.  Led the line very well.

 

·       Derrick – Very tricky dribbling down the right flank which was needed by the team to drag the pitch and play.  But like Alvin, was a bit unlucky not to score.

 

·       Elvis – Marshalled the defence well with impeccable reading of the match. 

 

·       Ron – Carrying a foot injury, Ron did not let it affect his play as he dished out several tackles and closing down.  The sliding recovery tackle was just like Mark Lawrenson.

 

·       Soon – Typical workhorse-like performance ala Jordan Henderson.  Covered every blade of the big pitch which was very handy and proved to be a huge morale-booster to the team.