Nord Nod
A win would not be forthcoming on Day Two of the Trophy of Legends, as the Birds ran up against a triumvirate of notable clubs. The pick of those would then have to be three-time Norwegian national league champions Nordby, currently plying their trade in II.1; boasting international midfielders Knut Omang, Martin Fretheim and Leidulf Hult, they would also have twice-capped Barbados custodian Deon Randall keeping goal. There were then few eyebrows raised as Nordby worked themselves to a 2-0 lead by the 35th minute, but the fun began when
Brian Reddy turned Fretheim two minutes later, to supply
Joe Reece via a memorable assist.
That kickstarted one of Grilled Birds' best comebacks in recent memory, with
Ha Qicai bursting through to equalize before half-time. It was then the Birds' turn for a two-goal lead through Reddy and
Chad Thach by the 70th, but Nordby stemmed the bleeding after overworking Grilled's back two, via Ratko Saratlija.
Evandro La Face appeared to have put it beyond the Norwegians with a picture-perfect chip on the run in the 82nd, only for Leidulf Hult and Karl Vatn to draw them level, to complete this classic.
"Yeah, that was one to savour."
Brian Reddy concluded.
This marathon and the one against F.C Vaxus had taken its toll, from how the players were gassed against German Division Three side 1.FC Gaste next, and Gaste would win 3-1 with former Georgian youth forward Aleko Urtmelidze scoring in both halves.
Mohd Marzuki Khairul got one back, but Fabian Brandorf clamped down with Grilled chasing an equalizer in the dying seconds. Estonian III.5 representatives FC KOSE SUPER 2004 entertained Grilled in the sixth match, and tied 2-2 after
Federico Parada and
Orest Tokarz had the Birds flying by the twelfth minute. Unfortunately, that didn't last, and
Gústav Thoroddsen uncharacteristically gave up a great chance in the 50th.
It remained so very clean for Farmer Bunnies, as they made it just three goals scored, but zero conceded, after six rounds. Turkish V.114 relegatees ARSEN TEAM were the only ones to yield to the Buns' not-too-impressive attack, and it took
Vitaliy Efendiev bending in a free-kick after 35 minutes. ASTURIAS PARAISO NATURAL (Spanish VI.946) and Polpo Calcio (Italian V.63) were mutual shutouts, with the Buns creating no lack of counters down the wings, that were however almost never converted into actual threats on goal.
Grilled International suffered a forgettable second day with two losses and a draw, beginning with a narrow 1-2 loss to German VI.188 winners 1.FC Underdog 1978. Adarijus Karpinskis swept a low cross past
Darshana De Abrew in the 27th minute, with
Egidius van der Duin making it up with an aggressive rush and strike three minutes before half-time. International then had multiple opportunities to take it in the second half, but failed to capitalize before Marino Pedreira fed on an ill-advised backpass in the 82nd.
Another German sixth division side, RasenBallsport Schwerin of VI.242, then recorded a 2-0 win, with Igor Smed and André Billquist completing the scoring by the 36th minute.
Redhuan bin Mohd Aleshahfezan's second yellow from taking Billquist down late would scupper lingering hopes of an International rally, although
Remond Bergervoet and
Umut Koza did test Ciro D'Agostini some afterwards.
There would finally be a point gained against former Irish Consolation Cup holders Els cataclistes, which had to be accounted as a fine result against the Division Two Dubliners.
Chua Jun Long would be cheered on even by the home fans for his brave hat-trick, in a sporting gesture. cataclistes pulled themselves together for the second half, though, and after Rondi D'Ávila Silva and Igor Kaszycki had gotten them to 3-3, International were by far the happier for the final whistle to sound.
