Tapja Terror
Grilled Birds' Supporter Week Trophy dreams came crashing down this second day, as they ended it with an 8-0 humiliation by Estonian Division Two club Tapja-Oravad II, that brought back very unwelcome memories of their collapse against Batok Earthquakes. The opening minutes were marked by laughable defending from corners, that resulted in two free headers off Kuno Speziari's deliveries. Italian forward Angelo Pellissone was shortchanged by his hat-trick, when all was done and dusted.
It was an eminently forgettable outing, for team captain
Moey Xin Seng, who suffered through eighty minutes of not getting anywhere. "It would have hurt so much more, had it actually counted for real."
That did put an end to Grilled's faint hopes of making the last sixty-four, as they had already opened with a 4-3 defeat against German III.11 side Village Bombers United, despite Moey's own tremendous first-half treble then. In truth, however, the Birds had been quite fortunate to be ahead at the half, and the Bombers' consistent quality had them rightly overhaul Grilled by the 82nd minute.
Grilled did at least get a victory against newly-promoted Ukrainian Premier-Liga side Lokomotyv Smila, who will be out to repeat their national championship from over twenty seasons ago. The Birds were hardly intimidated despite the presence of stars such as Romanian second striker Sedat Rahmeti, and would come out 5-2 winners, with an inspired Moey getting two more excellent finishes.
Farmer Bunnies and Grilled International would conversely survive the second day undefeated, with the Buns setting off with a one-all draw against Italian sixth division favourites Nuovo Hattrick Club Torino 2004. Torino had defended skipper Ippolito Garfagnini's 14th minute goal against the run of play very courageously, but
Sofian Azfar levelled with sixteen minutes to go.
3-0 wins were on the menu next for Bunnies, their first coming against Swiss Division Six battlers Traktor Werder Mägenwil 06, who held out until
Ibrahim Zahran Al-Maashany's lob in the 70th minute shattered their resistance. Indian Division Two side Bangalore Bombers then had important Bulgarian attacker Fatih Öke shackled by
Brendan Leung to the extent that he got himself sent off in the 25th;
Mushtag Al-Nameeri scored classily in both matches.
It was ties all the way for Grilled International, and they like the Buns began with a one-all affair. Spanish Division Seven team Boquerones Team were the hosts, and they went behind in the 60th minute to
Osertz Indurain's alert touch, after former Ivory Coast U-20 international goalie Babacar Egué had clawed
Tommy Dongelmans' intention-packed header aside. They didn't flag, though, and another former youth international in Ugandan centreback Jude Kabanda would equalize on the counter.
It was then 3-3 draws next, with a vigorous workout against German Division Six side Thanos Düsseldorf, who salvaged a point after another Indurain goal, courtesy of experienced Swedish poacher Roland Olsson; they might even have stolen it, had Diederick Vissenaekens' first touch been better in injury time. Grilled International's turn at a comeback then came against Texas V.189 club Anthro FC, whose 3-1 half-time lead would be whittled down by sustained International pressure.
