Web Unravelled
Ugolini Ache
Valiant Division Five side Spider Warriors rode their wingers to a newsworthy 2-2 half-time scoreline against the Birds, but were consumed in an uneven second half that had Grilled garner three goals after the hour.
Spider Warriors had sold out their 40000-seater Spiderweb Dungeon early, and some fans hadn't even managed to enter the complex when 32 year-old Israeli winger outran the not-so-pacy Lan Tuan Mu for the home side to take an unexpected lead. There were some protests from those who had missed the proceedings, but there was far more to come.
The Warriors played for the win as they immediately held back their players to defend, but Grilled were experienced in breaking down resolution, and man of the moment
Ola Martinsson lashed in an
Asher Stanton pass to pull back. Burly Mexican centerback Francisco Moreno brooked no nonsense from
Quah Han Kok, and when the Singaporean talent cheekily taunted him with a ball shuffle, Moreno lunged in heavily.
Bona came running over instantly, but good sense prevailed and the referee gave Moreno a stern talking-to and a yellow card. Han Kok, though quickly back standing, was in obvious pain and the coach waved for benched winger
Hidde van Liere to get on the pitch and learn to operate from the center.
Grilled were taking this as a regular early round Cup test, as
Ulf Hjortlind casually attempted a lob where a hard shot would have been more appropriate. Spider Warriors served a second warning, and the ground resounded with gasps when Spanish winger Oriol Creus bested unwilling flankman Stanton to squeeze an inswinging low cross in. The experienced Rasmus Holm Pedersen got a foot in ahead of Bona and touched it under Harlow.
Still in the 34th minute, defender
Lan Tuan-Mu made up for his first-minute lapse as he held the ball up well and, seeing no passing options, ran at the defence and surprised Czech keeper Hugo Novotný with a powerful right-footed bender. It remained 2-2 at the half-time whistle, and Spider Warriors were clearly the more satisfied team as the sides trooped off.
Grilled began the second half with Martinsson nearly repeating his free-kick exploits from the league. His uncatchable stinger whistled inches left, to the Swede's disgust. Spider Warriors gave the ball up more, and
Lorenz Paullin benefitted as
Dani Spirig advanced and sidefooted the ball to him in a free position. A quick shot gave Grilled the lead for the first time.
In the 76th minute, Hjortlind kept within touching distance of Martinsson on the club's all time goals chart by finishing off a well-worked passing motion professionally. Spider Warriors suffered a setback when it was realised that one of their top signings, Swedish midfielder Giorgio Ugolini, would be out for the long term in an injury received in the build-up.
Martinsson's scoring boots worked their magic after the substitution, as he turned a simple pass by
Earl Barbour into a goal by dummying to to van Liere, who was alert enough to play the return instantly and enable Martinsson to defeat the offside trap. Hjortlind could have added one more with a nicely considered early chip, but Novotný saw it coming and retreated to his line in time.
