Followers

Sunday, April 19, 2020

RI Soccer (post 40 years)

After 40 long years, the RI soccer team of 1978 met once again on May 9th evening at Kalidass J's place in Yio Chu Kang to commemorate the 40th year of the 'A' Division triumph on May 10th 1978, National Stadium.
It was so heartening to see 16 out of 20 of the 'boys' turned up for this gathering. Some travelled back from overseas to be present. Some of the 'boys' are grandfathers by now. Many of them are still playing recreational soccer together. For the other three who were not able to be present, we wished you were there!!

Mr Alfred Chen, the soccer master who was with the boys since lower secondary was also present!
What an evening!!

Auspicium Melioris Aevi


Insert: The original 1978 lineup at National Stadium vs 2018 lineup

Some with less hair but most of the lads did not change much


Mr Alfred in his motivating mood once again....Come On Lads


Jose, Eng Teng and goal scorer Clifton 


Captain Auyeong Pak Kuan back from Austria


Good Company over food and drinks


The beloved steps we used to sit at Grange Road @2011

The classroom block overlooking the field where home matches for soccer and rugby were played.

Glorious view of RI field from the grandstand


Auyeong receiving Ortega Cup @ 2004


Old Rafflesian soccer mates are still playing together, after 40 years


Auspicium Melioris Aevi

Sunday, April 29, 2018

EPL April 2017-18

When things seemed frustratingly down, the Red Devils relived their old glory days with a great great fightback against their noisy neighbours at Etihad. Man City seemed to be running away with the title and winning this derby at home would been a big slap on the Red Devils' faces.
The first half seemed to suggest so as City lead 2-0 and were rampant. However, Miourinho told his teams not to be the 'clowns' at half time. The great fightback resulted in two Progba and one Smalling goals. Now City has to hold their champagne back. They faced a 3-0 deficit against Liverpool in the UCL quarter final next.....
Man City 2  Man Utd  3

This is the type of Jekyll and Hyde performances that plagued Utd this season. After last week's epic win over champion-elect City at Etihad, they fell to a complacent performance to lose to bottom of the table, WBA,  at home!! Thus Man City is now confirmed to be the Champion of England, ,after winning against Spurs earlier on Saturday, literally handed over by the Red Devils.

Man Utd 0  WBA  1

This win over lowly Bournemouth strengthened Utd's hold on 2nd spot but could not wipe away the last loss to WBA. On Saturday, it will be the FA Cup semifinal against Spurs

Bournemouth  0  Man Utd  2
 
The Red Devils reached the semifinal of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspurs at Wembley. Delle Alli scored for Spurs first before Sanchez equalised and Ander Herrera scored the winner. Utd will now meet Chelsea in the final.
 
Tottenham Hotspurs 1  Man Utd  2
 
Old Trafford paid a fond farewell to Arsene Wenger as Arsenal's manager after decades of sometimes bitter confrontation. However, Fellaini spoilt the party with an injury time winner.
Man Utd 2  Arsenal 1




Sunday, April 1, 2018

EPL March 2017 - 18

It was a lucky win for the Red Devils as Matic scored the 90th minute winner after going 2-0 down at Selhurst Park.
 
Crystal Palace  2  Man Utd  3
 
Man Utd vs Liverpool
This big big win over the Reds gave the advantage to the Red Devils in the race for runners up spot. Mancurian Marcus Rashford scored two wonderful goals to settle the match
 
Man Utd 2  Liverpool 1
 
After the wonderful win, it was a great dampener when Sevilla came visiting and left with a 2-1 win in the UCL round of 16 second leg. The Red devils was unceremoniously crashed out after being made the favourite!!
 
Man Utd  1   Sevilla  2
 
The 3rd important match, FA Cup Q-final of the month, was wobbly won 2-0 against Brighton & HA. Mourinho blasted his players for having 'no character'
Man Utd   2  Brighton HA 0
 
The Red Devils return to their winning ways after the International Week with a 2-0 win over Swansea.
Man City also won 3-1 over Everton and it is now the derby at Etihad next week when City host Utd that can decide the Champion if City wins!!!
 
Man Utd 2 Swansea 0


Sunday, February 25, 2018

EPL Feb 2017 -18

The month started well for the Red Devils with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield.
 
Man Utd  2  Huddersfield  0
 
However, the Red Devils showed their weaknesses even with the addition of Alexis Sanchez. They succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to lowly Rafa Benitez's Newcastle Utd. At this stage, they are 16 points behind free scoring City. Their runners up position is now at risk with Spurs winning 1-0 over Arsenal and Liverpool beating Southampton 2-0
 
Newcastle  1  Man Utd  0

UCL Rd of 16
A strong defensive display esp by David De Gea against Sevilla in Spain, helped the Red Devils to go back to Old Trafford with a 0-0 draw.

Sevilla  0  Man Utd  0
 
Jose Mourinho declared his personal quarrel with Conte is now over. The Red Devils took revenge over Chelsea with a 2-1 win, with Lukaku scoring one and assisted the other for Lingaard to score the winner. They regained the second spot from Liverpool.
 
Man City 3  Arsenal  0 in the League Cup final
 
 Man Utd  2  Chelsea 1

Sunday, February 11, 2018

EPL January 2017-18

January begins well for the Red Devils after the falter esp the horror show against Bristol City in the Caraboa Cup q-final, in December 2017 They began it with a 2-0 with at Goodison Park, Jesse Lingard the highlight

                                                 Everton 0  Man Utd  2

The FA Cup win over Derby County followed
 
Man Utd 2  Derby Co 0
Lingard continued his show against Derby County
 
A lucky 1-0 win at Turf Moor, Burnley
 
Burnley  0  Man Utd  1
 
The Red Devils proceeded into the 5th round without any issues.
 
 
Yeovil 0  Man Utd  4
 
The month ended with a poor poor display at Spurs' Wembley Stadium. The Lilywhites totally outplayed the Red Devils, deservedly winning 2-0.
 
Tottenham Hotspurs  2  Man Utd  0
 



Sunday, December 31, 2017

EPL Dec 2017 - 18

Arsenal  1  Man Utd  3
It was a thoroughly satisfying win for Mourinho at the Emirates ending Wenger 12 match unbeaten streak. The statistics showed 33 Arsenal shots vs 8 for Utd and yet the Red Devils won with their brilliant counter attack game. Lingard scored a brace with Valencia starting the goal rush. World class De Gea stopped a record 14 shots!! Only black mark was the red card for Progba, who will be ruled out of the derby next week, for a stud up challenge on Bellerin.
Meanwhile, Man City edged on with another late win, 2-1 over West Ham to lead by 8 points.

The Red Devils qualified for the Knockout stage of the UCL at a canter when they came from behind to beat CSKA Moscow 2-1 to top the group.
Man Utd  2  CSKA Moscow 1

Manchester Derby at Old Trafford
The power shift is now towards the Blue half of Manchester as Citizens beat the Red Devils 2-1 with little effort. It brought to a halt of Utd's 40 unbeaten home games and set a league record of 14 consecutive wins for City. More worrying is the 11 points separating the runaway leader City and second place United. It is a very bitter blow to and humiliation for Jose Mourinho and the Red Devils.


Man Utd  1 Man City  2

The Red Devils recovered from their weekend disappointment with a narrow 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Lukaku scored.


Man Utd  1   Bournemouth 0

The Red Devils remained 11 points behind the high flying Citizens in second place even though they beat a poor WBA at the Hawthorns 2-1. Lukaku scored his 10th PL goal. This is the 3rd and last match without the suspended Progba.


WBA 1  Man Utd  2

The Red Devils were stunned by an injury time goal to lose 1-2 away to Championship side Bristol City in the Q-finals of the Carabao Cup. Jose Mourinho said that his players 'did not turn up in the office' in this humiliating defeat. Zlatan scored his first goal since his comeback from injury. Bristol City will now meet Man City in one semifinal while Arsenal and Chelsea meet in the other.


Bristol City  2   Man Utd  1

The Red Devils received a second consecutive sucker punch at King Power Stadium when 10-man Leicester held them to a 2-2 draw. The Foxes scored in the last minute of injury time to draw, leaving the Red Devils a further 13 points away from runaway leader City. Jose Mourinho chided his team to be 'childish' in attack and defence, in a match which they should have won comfortably.

Leicester 2   Man Utd  2

Another late goal drama. This time, United was chasing the game after 2-0 down against Burnley at Old Trafford. Jesse Lingard scored both goals, the equalising goal at the 91st minute. Utd could be 15 points behind City if the Citizens win their later match against Newcastle, as expected.

Man Utd  2  Burnley  2

2017 ended sourly for the Red Devils in the 3rd successive draws which left them further behind Man City and dropped to 3rd behind a resurgent Chelsea. Lulaku was carried off with a head injury. A very very disappointing and frustrating time for Red Devils fans.

Man Utd  0   Southampton  0

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

EPL Nov 2017 - 18

UCL : The Red Devils duly qualified to the KO stage of the Champions League by beating Benfica again. Benfica's teenage goalkeeper Silve  again gifted the Red Devils with an own goal


Man Utd 2  Benfica  0

Jose Mourinho still cannot get one over his former club and employer and his bitter rival Conte when they lost 1-0 at Stamford Road even though the Blues had a disaster midweek against Roma. The  Red Devils are now 8 points behind the rampant Man City side. The goal was scored by Man Utd reject, Alvero Morata!!

Chelsea 1  Man Utd  0

Man Utd 4  Newcastle 1
Rafa Benitez's Toons have no replies to a rampaging Red Devils though they scored first. Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his first appearance this season and nearly scored with a volley!!

UCL Group Match 5
Basel  1 Man Utd  0
Rio Ferdinand blasted the Red Devils for being 'unprofessional' in this 1-0 defeat. The Red Devils needed a result in their last group match against CSKA in order to qualify to the KO stage. Marcos Rojo came back from long term injury just like Zlatan.

Newly promoted Brighton & HA provided Mourinho's side the 'toughtest test' though the Red Devils prevailed with a lucky deflected Young's goal.

Man Utd  1 Brighton HA  0

Midweek 13a


Watford 2  Man Utd  4
A potential 'banana skin' match was avoided when Ashley Young scored a brace in the 4-2 victory. However, Man City maintained their 8 point lead at the top with a 96th minute winner against Southampton, 2-1. Next week, Arsenal at Emirates!!