Weather conditions were fairly good for football at the stadium today. Starters: Germanakos - Keng Chuan, 其材 (Qicai) - Reddy, Thach, Kwang Tse, Khairul, Teck Fu - Chitre, Ze Han, An Keng.

Lineup: Wight - Wyrzykowski, Forgan, Pennersax, Doludis, Garlaschi - Di Pierri, Jarratt, Richards, Maly - Schötmar.

The teams had chosen different formations for the match. The home team, Grilled Birds, went for a 2-5-3, while Wincobank Ironopolis has decided to play a 5-4-1 lineup. Grilled went for a narrow approach, using their divine (+8) (28) ability to focus their attacks down the middle. Hold your ground, Bessemer! Hold your ground! A day may come when formidable (9) pressing fails, an hour of desperate goals and shattered shin guards, but it is not this day! 31 minutes into the game, Rimtas Doludis was a hair's width away from giving Bessemer the lead with a shot from the left. A timely dive by Dimitris Germanakos saved the home team on this occasion. Bessemer's ability to press all over the field paid off frequently. Many thought 夏 (Ha) 其材 (Qicai) ought to have been awarded a penalty 34 minutes into the match, as he went down trying to beat Randolph Wight after an attack through the middle gave him the one-on-one opportunity. 0 - 0 was the score after the first half. Well, look at this! Cardi B is on the Enormotron in naught but giant sunglasses and a Twisted Metal F.C. tank top. I've not seen anything like it before. 46 minutes into the game, Grilled wanted to bring some new energy to their game. Chan Ze Han gave Joe Reece a quick hug as he left the field. Chan Ze Han was coming off, and had taken his last free kick for the day. That meant Aw Keng Chuan got the chance to showcase his dead ball skills. Grilled were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up coming through the center. Joe Reece gave Grilled the 1 - 0 lead, as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then placed the ball at the keeper's right post – what a clinical finish! The home side's Joe Reece came close to extending the lead after 56 minutes. His shot came in from the right but Randolph Wight managed to push it wide with his fingertips. With 67 minutes played, Joe Reece could have brought this one home for Grilled as he charged up on the left, but his hooked ball went just a bit too high. Bessemer's talent at pressing frustrated their opponents and the fans as the game became a stalemate in the middle of the park. After 75 minutes, Grilled's lack of experience resulted in the team's loss of their edge at the end of the game. Joe Reece had a fantastic opportunity to put Grilled up another goal 80 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. Bessemer were able to mount several counter-attacks, such as the impressive one 81 minutes in, but Les Forgan lofted a free kick over the crossbar. With the clock showing 85 minutes, the fourth official held up the substitution board. Brian 'Was Born' Reddy looked to see that it was his number in red, so he made his way over to the sideline and swapped out for Paulino Trindade, though he would have liked to continue. The match ends 1 - 0. Looks like Nate Silver was right again - his prediction that Grilled would have 71 percent possession in this half was spot on!

Most important Grilled player was Lim An Keng. You can tell it was nickel beer night yesterday at the local bar because Dimitris Germanakos seemed to stumble all over the pitch. Bessemer's best player was Randolph Wight. Good thing Les Forgan isn't a horse, because he'd surely be sent to the glue factory after that performance.