Goblin Bomb
Grilled Birds suffered their first defeat - if unofficial - against a Hattrick league system club in some time, with three-time US Open Cup champions FCGoblins doing the honours. The Birds might have felt somewhat hard done by their result against the current III.14 side, however, who banked on a heavily defensive approach to limit them to a single
Chia Kwang Tse goal in the 53rd. Hani Sanaei levelled after beating
Phillip Nagata down the right wing in the 70th, and former Jersey Bears FC man Ibrahim Winter won it in added time.
Birds captain
Genki Nagano was extremely disappointed at how the match turned out, seeing as it has probably wrecked the team's hopes of reaching the knockout stage. "We had our chances, but they simply wouldn't go in today."
Grilled had drawn their first Trophy of Legends fixture of the day too, to Danish III.12 challengers Thorup Squirrel Force, with Christen Koliander likewise earning their point after the 90th minute from a rapid counterattack. That 2-2 draw was followed by a 4-1 victory over Italian V.141 club Warhero, as a rare
Hein Thiha Pyae Ko brace was answered by a consolation from Swiss striker Freddy Benard.
Dan Alstani noted the team's vulnerability late on in matches. "While it appears more a mental issue, we may have to beef up our fitness levels soon."
Farmer Bunnies had to endure a painful second day in which they were swept by all comers, starting with Italian VI.240 hosts Quidioma, who crushed them 3-0 with
Guan Ming Kum earning the Buns' only shot on target early on. American IV.59 entrants AD Etruska 2008 then won 2-0 after a fourth minute strike by English forward Gerald Johnston, with Franklin Medrano then going around
AES Anchan in the 52nd minute.
Sng Xin Wai might have reduced with a bit of individual genius, but former Egyptian youth international custodian Sabry Anis made the save.
The Buns did at least score in their final test of the day, against Czech V.206 team TJ Barcelona. Poor concentration again had them concede in just the second minute to Giuseppe Stampfli, and Chinese striker Horma Faxruddim beat
Toh Eng Guang in the air for their second goal in the 28th minute.
Gan Ruogui then proved his worth, in slicing past multiple defenders on a fast break for 2-1.
Grilled International fared slightly better with a win in their first game, against Hungarian V.245 visitors Pritt Power. This was admittedly against ten men after Italian midfielder Enrico Collia got himself sent off for a second yellow in the 33rd minute, with
Mikhail Romashov having already put International up from a volley. Pritt nearly managed a comeback despite that, with Ádám Rúzsa's fine improvisation in the 68th minute making it 3-2, which was how it ended.
It was then a 0-5 wipeout against New Zealand IV.8 winners Mainland FC, whose Spanish star forward Juan Carlos Villela reaped a hat-trick from an impeccable counterattacking strategy. Spanish VI.137 champions Delgadito plantar CF went toe to toe in contrast, but International fell off after taking the lead thrice. Icelandic forward Hallur Blöndal gave them the lead for the first time after 43 minutes, and wound up with four goals to his name in an 8-3 drubbing.
There would be some great news for International on the developmental end, as three of their youngsters -
Vincent Nordin bin Hj Irwan,
Jay Bhimanawar and
Rahman bin Hj Raziman - were named as official prospects for the Brunei U-20 squad. "It's an incredible honour." the just-turned-eighteen Bhimanawar grinned. "I had really not expected it!"
