Grilled Birds fielded a 2-5-3 lineup. For Batok Earthquakes, the formation of choice was 5-2-3. Earthquakes were relying on their divine (+7) ability to counter-attack.With 5 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. Ioritz Aldabalde put the ball away for 0 - 1.Earthquakes were pushed back, and had many dangerous counterattacks. An impressive one came 18 minutes into the match, but Ioritz Aldabalde narrowly missed the free kick attempt that was awarded as a result of a foul.The referee showed Earthquakes's Lee Long Chi the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge.Earthquakes almost scored after a swift counterattack 36 minutes into the game, but Cándido Cardozo put the shot from the left flank just outside the goal.Following a nasty collision in the 39, Grilled's Cyril Künzler complained of a damaged shoulder. He was advised against continuing the game. José Luiz Velho tried to hide a smile as he entered the field. He had not expected to get a chance this day. Cyril Künzler was coming off, and had placed his last free kick for the day. That meant that Bilal Mohammad Harun" class="homeplayer">Bilal Mohammad Harun got the chance to showcase his dead ball skills.Grilled's Kalki Parvathaneni" class="homeplayer">Kalki Parvathaneni almost tied things up with 40 minutes played after breaking through on the right, but his shot deflected off the post.Earthquakes almost scored after a counterattack 41 minutes into the match, but Lee Long Chi took a shot from the left that landed harmlessly in the side of the net.The teams went for the halftime break at 0 - 1.Grilled enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 73 percent of possession.
Grilled needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 46 minutes Hoàng Trung Quá made way for Gilbert Webb" class="homeplayer">Gilbert Webb.Florus Romijn's speed is always a threat when he gets a little room to move, and 52 minutes into the match was no different as he broke free of his man to send a delightful through ball to José Luiz Velho who knocked it in for Grilled. 1 - 1!They were singing the praises of Chan Ze Han" class="homeplayer">Chan Ze Han 56 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 2 - 1 to Grilled.Grilled's Islom Davlatov got himself booked for a foul.Egil Borch was unable to continue, following a slight injury to his right knee after 64 minutes.This gave Said Ngeh Ahamefula a chance to take to the field instead.The score became 3 - 1 at 70 minutes into the game, when Grilled were given a penalty which Bilal Mohammad Harun" class="homeplayer">Bilal Mohammad Harun blasted straight down the middle giving the keeper no chance!Lee Long Chi knew he was in trouble after hacking down an opponent. Despite his pleading with the referee, the Earthquakes player was shown a second yellow card and dismissed from the game.Having taken a hard knock between his legs, Florus Romijn limped off the pitch in a reduced state of dignity. He could not continue, managing only 73 minutes for his team this day.The replacement for the injured player was Chu Xin Lee" class="homeplayer">Chu Xin Lee. Earthquakes nearly produced a goal as Valentin Mrejeru set up Ioritz Aldabalde for a strike from a seemingly impossible angle. However he put the shot narrowly wide.Vikram Mudaliar" class="homeplayer">Vikram Mudaliar unleashed a swerving effort from the right that the visitors' keeper did well to tip wide.Earthquakes's counterattacks created a good chance for Chua Li Sze on the right after 76 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar.Bilal Mohammad Harun" class="homeplayer">Bilal Mohammad Harun's curling free kick almost found the goal for Grilled, but the visitors' keeper somehow managed to get ahold of it.83 minutes into the match, Grilled's Kalki Parvathaneni" class="homeplayer">Kalki Parvathaneni demonstrated his famed speed as he raced past his marker and passed the ball to José Luiz Velho who chipped it in for 4 - 1.84 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as Moey Xin Seng" class="homeplayer">Moey Xin Seng broke through, making the score 5 - 1 for Grilled.The referee decided to let play continue for an additional 3 minutes beyond the regular 90 minutes.The match ends 5 - 1.Possession in this half belonged to Grilled, who controlled the ball 73 percent of the time.
