Spirited Away
Anders Opens Accounts
Almighty Spirits FC found Grilled a bit too much to chew on after eliminating Division Two side Kim Tae Hee FC 2-1 in their last Cup game. Five different players chalked up goals for the Birds, but
Anders Fredgård will probably remember his the most vividly as it is the first the defender has ever scored for Grilled.
Jaan Kadak got the nod over a not fully-fit
Ola Martinsson for this match, and he did his part by winning a penalty kick with only eighty seconds on the clock. Israeli midfielder Yoni Roth took him out marginally inside the area, and Sid coolly sent Bao Yo-Yo the wrong way as he delivered a low shot to the left. It happened to be Grilled's 900th competitive goal.
Almighty Spirits had a strong Israel flavour to them as they employed no less than five players from that Middle Eastern state, including captain Ben David, their right sided forward. This didn't help the Serangoon club much as they were not exactly good enough overall, but even the most die-hard Grilled fan would be hard pressed to find a worse performer than Bukhari on the day.
Noticeably off the pace, he got himself cautioned in the third minute after rather obviously being outrun by local boy Chang Leng Long, and therefore blatantly wrestling him to the ground. Shaken by the early warning, he was a non-factor in the long remainder of the contest.
He didn't have a monopoly on silly fouls however, for after Uri Ginat refused to move away from a Grilled free-kick despite the referee's persistent instructions, he was likewise booked and will now have to miss their home game against Sentosa Athletic on Sunday.
Recent bad boy
Quah Han Kok then came good as he embellished a dominant display in the middle of the park with a well-taken 34th minute volley to double the lead. Hjortlind could have gone for it himself, but showed admirable restraint in sweeping the ball to the better-placed Quah, who left Yo-Yo no chance.
A minute later,
Anders Fredgård also regained some standing with the critical Grilled supporters with a good chipped finish. Having seen his defensive stock drop after a couple of above-average appearances, the Swedish central defender wasted no time in running to the visiting end and dedicating his first goal to the fans by way of apology.
The full house at Almighty F.C Arena were entertained by a kids' five-a-side futsal game on the track during the fifteen-minute interval, but the gloom returned for the majority of the spectators soon after play resumed. This time, it was
Jaan Kadak who bulged the net with a strong strike after a delightful assist from Borup.
Dani Spirig would not finish the match, as energetic Thai striker Itthipon Kongsul made a full-blooded two-footed challenge on the Swiss midfielder in the 75th minute. Dani actually wanted to continue, but was clearly struggling to stay on his feet.
Hidde van Liere was only too glad to stretch his legs.
Grilled then extinguished the Spirits' Cup campaign with Hjortlind sending a cracker of a shot into the top corner, two minutes after Borup rounded off a commendable outing with a firm diving header that the opposition goalie did well to parry. Hjortlind's fifth and final goal also allowed him to pass his landmark career century, and he is now within touching distance of being the second member of Grilled's exclusive 100-goal club.
