The 4000-strong crowd at The Cooking Pot all left happy after the open game, which saw the apprentices attacking in waves before falling back every now and then for most of the game. "I daresay it's better entertainment than the league matches." casual supporter Ian Paintsil approved. "Throw in some free beer, and I will be back every week."

Alcántara was pleased for a different reason, as he felt that the young Birds had learnt a valuable lesson in not becoming complacent. "Next time, they will recall how they nearly lost it from three up, and wake their idea up." The assistant coach did also praise the returning Wardi Azhari and Tang Hengcai, who both found the net. "They have logged their rehabilitation hours exactly as instructed, and this is their reward."

Arrogance meanwhile won their first Singapore Cup, also by 4-3, in a blockbuster against Young Tigers at Undiscovered Paradise. They had to do it being one man down for most of the match, having had Jure Sviben red-carded towards the end of the first half, and further come from behind twice against the ever-solid Tigers.

Former Chicken Wings trainee Zhao Jing Wei's entrance in the 65th minute helped Arrogancae to hold their own in midfield, and Zhao will probably not regret passing up a move back to the Birds after Mohd Aiman Wong bin Kassim's late brace broke Tigers hearts and saw him collect a Cup winners' medal.