iv id="matchReport"> 36408 spectators had found their way to saiNts James Park, despite the heavy rain. Martin Sánchez was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Norbert Brückling and Gerhard Mittelschiff. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Saints. Starters: Seng An - Jian Tian, Lee, Balaraju - Yun Hock, Abdullah, Wei Nie, Ho Sze, Tajuddin - Yeturi, An Puay.

Grilled decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players took the field: Tian Han - 福泉 (Fuquan) , Filippone - Ping Shun, Leong Kum, Won, Lee Hao, Aik Jia - Isufi, Meyer, 勇航 (Yonghang).

Saints took the lead 25 minutes into the game by 1 - 0, as G. Jian Tian elegantly received a long range pass through the middle, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. L. Ho Sze sailed high above the opponents as he headed in a corner kick from R. Abdullah after 27 minutes of play, making the score 2 - 0. Saints had a magnificent opportunity after 37 minutes as C. Yun Hock hit the ball hard from the edge of the penalty box. However, the shot went wide. A magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Saints's L. Ho Sze increasing the lead to 3 - 0. Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 42 minutes, Saints did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, L. Ho Sze was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 4 - 0. At that, L. Ho Sze was noted down for a hat trick! 4 - 0 was the halftime score. Saints enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 57 percent of possession.

Things were deteriorating for the away team as Saints scored another to make it 5 - 0 after a left side attack resulted in a goal for R. Abdullah after 62 minutes. Almost all the way down to the corner flag, Saints's C. Yun Hock somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for M. Yeturi, who struck for 6 - 0. Saints's C. An Puay increased the lead to 7 - 0, after he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing goalkeeper following some good play down the right wing after 70 minutes. Saints's D. Balaraju was shown a yellow card for standing over the ball and blocking an opponent's quick free kick after 73 minutes. W. Tajuddin increased the lead for Saints to 8 - 0, getting a head onto a hooked ball from the right. The ball looked to have taken a deflection on the way in, but he's claiming it! Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Grilled's C. Meyer was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 80 minutes. G. Dvorak was given a chance to change things around. The referee showed Saints's L. Ho Sze the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. After 85 minutes, Grilled switched 凌. 福泉 (Fuquan) with Z. Jing Wei, hoping for a quick impact on the pitch. 86 minutes into the game, L. Aik Jia had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came N. Muthyala. Saints had most of the ball, with 57 percent of possession.

Saints's top performer was clearly C. An Puay. However, W. Tajuddin made a disastrous appearance. 田. 勇航 (Yonghang) performed admirably for Grilled. On the other hand, Z. Jing Wei's play was disheartening. The match ends 8 - 0.