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.

ARFC in gallant 1-1 draw with Pyay United FC (Myanmar team)

 Playing its second match in 2023 on 12 Feb 2023 at 3 pm at Mayflower SS, ARFC Open team fought hard to secure a 1-1 draw against a young and fit Pyay United FC where the players are from Myanmar.

 

Prior to kick-off, ARFC was severely hit with the withdrawals of arguably ARFC’s top 2 players in Khim and Soon (Derrick not counted as he is special breed). 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

ARFC started brightly and could have taken the lead within 7 mins.

 

First, Haron was put through by Guoxiong but he lifted the ball just slightly over with their GK charging out. Unlucky but what a good move.

 

4 mins later, Sebastian missed an even better chance.  Their GK inexplicably picked up a back pass just outside the 6-yard box, giving ARFC an indirect free-kick.  Haron stopped the ball and Sebastian seemed to have telepathic understanding with Haron, and sprinted from the centre circle area, all the way into the area.  Haron read his move perfectly and rolled the ball to Sebastian, catching the opponents off-guard.  Running in at full speed and expecting to score, Sebastian somehow blasted the ball into row Z from near the penalty spot area.  What a glorious chance spurned!  Unacceptable!

 

ARFC continued its good play and finally took the lead deservingly.  From a ball played in by Wei Lit on the left, Chun Haw, who had a great match, dashed in for the ball and was cruelly hacked to the ground by their defender, giving the referee the easiest of decisions to award a penalty.

 

From the resultant penalty, Haron nonchalantly stroked the ball into the net which their GK got a hand to it but could not keep out the powerful shot.  1-0 and this was Haron’s 277^th ARFC goals, with 262 goals coming from ARFC Open team matches.

 

ARFC then had to withstand a slew of chances created by their speedy and fit players. 

 

Thankfully, Darren managed to head the ball away for a corner right at the goalline after Zhi Chong had dashed out when trying to thwart their striker.

 

ARFC also had at least 5-6 corners in the first half but could not capitlise though a few of them came close to scoring.

 

Guoxiong then came to ARFC’s rescue when he blocked a shot right at the goalline, ala Ashley Cole, after defending a corner. 

 

With the rain pouring down, it was apt that the referee blew for half-time whistle.

 

The re-start was delayed due to the heavy rain and it affected ARFC warriors when played finally resumed at 4.30 pm.

 

ARFC was caught cold, pun no intended, when play resumed as they needed more time to get warmed up again. 

 

Indeed, the opponents soon equalised after a quick counter-attack.  1-1

 

ARFC continued to give their all, and managed to match the opponents.  In fact, ARFC could have regained the lead when Toh’s clearance saw Haron breaking clear and bearing down at goal.  Their GK charged out but Haron’s deft chip was just slightly wide!  Unlucky.

 

Zhi Chong then came up with 3 -4 brilliant saves to keep ARFC in the game.

 

ARFC also wasted a few free-kicks which were connected by ARFC players but their headers were well-saved by their GK.

 

With nearly the last kick of the match, Zhi Chong produced a stunning double-saves that defied logic. 

 

This was a match where every ARFC warriors played well and kept to its shape.  The efforts put in by all were really commendable, and every warriors encouraged each other when the chips were down.

 

Kudos to all who played in this match!!