Fairly good weather for football at the stadium today. Starters: Salmiņš - Panigrahi, Jeftić - Chuan Yong, Xin Seng, Mohammad Harun, Kamel, Parvathaneni - Mudaliar, Ze Han, Egan.

Lineup: Pollard - Anderson, McIndoe, MacLeman, Witton - Ballart, Coppersmith, Ramsay, Lenormand, Bails - Ubink.

The teams had chosen different formations for the match. The home team, Grilled Birds, went for a 2-5-3, while Bandits Utd has decided to play a 4-5-1 lineup. Grilled used their divine (+7) (27) ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the field. Like the adage John 'Teflon John' Anderson got left behind when Grilled's Kalki Parvathaneni made a sudden rush forward in minute 6, finishing it off with a clinical strike. 1 - 0! Teo Chuan Yong should probably have put his team up another goal after 22 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by Mikey 'Mighty Mike' Pollard kept the visitors in the game. It was obvious that Grilled had instructions to attack in the middle when they directed a break on the wing into the center of the park. Cheers filled the stadium as Bhavya Panigrahi broke through the visitors' central defense to put away the 2 - 0 goal for Grilled. Bandits kept trying to force their way through on the right side and Yuri 'Binky' Ubink got his chance after 35 minutes, but the home side's defense held their position and stopped the attack. Grilled will have to work out a different routine for indirect free kicks. Though it looked well-rehearsed, their play after 36 minutes was easily anticipated by the opposition and the attackers simply had nowhere to go. Josué 'El Bandido' Bails was in the clear after breaking through the offside trap following a Bandits counter-attack from the left with 37 minutes played. His neat finish made the score 2 - 1. After 38 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by Chan Ze Han might have resulted in another goal for Grilled. However, Mikey 'Mighty Mike' Pollard made a spectacular save. Halftime score was 2 - 1. Grilled did a good job holding on to the ball, with 64 percent of possession. We'll be back after these interminable commercial messages.

Grilled had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle instead. Kalki Parvathaneni was not content with his team's lead, and tried to extend it 49 minutes into the game after a nice run through the middle, but his shot went wide. Grilled players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. Kalki Parvathaneni had a fantastic opportunity to put Grilled up another goal 59 minutes into the match, but he fired just over the crossbar. With the clock showing 60 minutes, the fourth official held up the substitution board. Bhavya Panigrahi looked to see that it was his number in red, so he made his way over to the sideline and swapped out for Gilbert Webb, though he would have liked to continue. With 60 minutes gone, a long pass from the defense of Bandits resulted in a counter-attack that set Josué 'El Bandido' Bails free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. Bandits were able to mount several counter-attacks, such as the impressive one 66 minutes in, but Josué 'El Bandido' Bails lofted a free kick over the crossbar. As the 80 minute mark approached, the Grilled manager decided it was time for a substitution. Kalki Parvathaneni reluctantly made way for 吴 (Wu) 敬龙 (Jinglong). After 80 minutes, the Grilled coach wanted to see a new face on the field, waving Bilal Mohammad Harun off. Kalle ter Berg took his place. The match ends 2 - 1. Grilled had the upper hand in possession, maintaining an impressive 65 percent possession of the ball.

Chan Ze Han performed admirably for Grilled. Good thing Teo Chuan Yong isn't a horse, because he'd surely be sent to the glue factory after that performance. Bandits's best player was Rémi 'Le taureau' Lenormand. You can tell it was nickel beer night yesterday at the local bar because Yuri 'Binky' Ubink seemed to stumble all over the pitch.