Taking The Micky
Although the points were well-received, head coach
Djan Bacelar couldn't get over the malicious injury to
Mohammad Ramli Saliman, who is now looking at a lengthy spell of recuperation after doctors confirmed a possible metatarsal fracture.
"You know I'm not one to complain about referees usually, but that was outrageous!" a fuming Bacelar raged. "He gave our guys no protection at all, none whatsover, even when it was clear that they weren't interested in playing football any longer."
Apart from that, captain
Moey Xin Seng's hopes of overtaking RFC would not materialise, as the frontrunners kept the pace up with a solid 0-3 victory away at ArSenal U21. Their defence was the key after Polish winger Tomasz Krużołek found an early brace, and even ArSenal's best shot at a consolation - from a 64th minute corner - would go begging when Charles Lao found the goalpost.
"It's going to be a long season." Moey sighed.
-Blitz- expectedly continued keeping up the pressure as they canned the Cats 8-1, while next opponents Ropelearner FC did their own chances of survival a world of good, by hammering competitors newbies are newbies 5-1 at home. Austrian midfielder Marijan Grgeč was the undisputed star for them on the day as he rung up a hat-trick, including two from wonderful free-kicks.
"Of course, we'll strive not to give him opportunities around the box." the Grilled captain continued, when this was brought to his attention. "He gave us enough problems when we played earlier this month, and I'd gather all our other players are well aware of what he can do."
Farmer Bunnies kept up their dogged pursuit of Kim Tae Hee FC in III.11, and their 2-0 over a stubborn M4 United was hardly a gimme either. They never quite looked like breaking the visitors down with any consistency, and
Sofian Azfar's early freak thigh muscle tear did little to help their build-up play.
Another scoreless draw was looking very likely, after Israeli keeper Dror Makovitzk fearlessly pounced on a slightly-loose
Abderahim Bentellis touch in his 80th minute breakaway, but
Enzo Paolo Panzarino would once more ride in to the rescue with barely five minutes remaining, in his milestone 150th appearance for the Buns. With that settled,
Wong Ting Yew added a second from a tight angle.
Grilled International made it three from three, as they bettered their winning margin against Shaka Zibby from last week.
Micky bin Kadir found his scoring boots, recording two quality first-half goals, with
Safari bin Hj Jali and veteran defender
Mohd Kamarul bin Hj Safari cleaning up. Clint Blake provided resistance with a headed goal from a cross, but Chipako Maluli's ill-discipline cost them whatever small chance they had remaining.
As with their more-established sister clubs, however, International also saw their injury list grow, with Italian
Romano Armellin becoming Maluli's victim. It might not matter, though, with financial troubles hitting several sides in the league.
"The Hattrick system expansion was always going to be precarious, what with there being little research on the potential support bases of the new clubs." one prominent analyst in the space reported. "We're now seeing the fruits, and it'll probably get worse before it gets better."