Dark skies made the crowd at the stadium today a little nervous, but the rain held off. Lineup: Salmiņš - Panigrahi, Carapaica - Xin Lee, Chuan Yong, Mazhud, Mohammad Harun, Kamel - Ze Han, Mudaliar, Xin Seng.

The following players had been selected: Chalika - Bazyl, Martínez - Pardoel, Milik, Cicirelli, Svirčević, N'Guett - Charlton, Bevan, 智傑 (Zhijie).

Both teams came out with a similar approach to the match, having chosen to start with a 2-5-3 formation. Lightnings demonstrated their creative tactics on the field. Lightnings's opponents know to be wary of Giovanni 'Bum Bum' Cicirelli's speed, but it made little difference as he blew past the defense 17 minutes into the match. Only the keeper could stop him - and he did with a perfectly timed dive! Grilled took the lead 22 minutes in, as Abd Hadi Taib Mazhud broke through on the left and put his shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper, bringing the score to 1 - 0. Things were going from bad to worse for the visitors. Vikram Mudaliar was able to squirm through the central defense after 29 minutes and score, bringing the lead to 2 - 0. With 37 minutes gone, Lightnings replied and reduced the lead to 2 - 1. Bobby Charlton scored after a marvelous cross from the left. 2 - 1 was the halftime score. Grilled did a good job holding on to the ball, with 59 percent of possession. We'll be back after these interminable commercial messages.

After 46 minutes, the Grilled coach wanted to see a new face on the field, waving Douglas Carapaica off. Sølve Lunde took his place. The visitors got just what they'd been looking for after 50 minutes when 賴 (Lai) 智傑 (Zhijie) received a pass from the left and buried it in the bottom corner, leveling it at 2 - 2. Grilled took the lead 57 minutes in, after Chan Ze Han's awkward, but ultimately successful, shot from the right. 3 - 2. Lightnings tied it all up, 59 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by Vince Bevan, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defense, making it 3 - 3. Grilled had a chance to take the lead after Bilal Mohammad Harun's dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled away as his shot went just over the bar with 68 minutes played. Given a free kick in a difficult position after 73 minutes, Grilled tried a variation that they had practiced in training. The kick was sent into the area just in front of the keeper, however, the defense were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. After 77 minutes, Lightnings's lack of experience resulted in the team's loss of their edge at the end of the game. With the clock showing 80 minutes, the fourth official held up the substitution board. Moey Xin Seng looked to see that it was his number in red, so he made his way over to the sideline and swapped out for Kalki Parvathaneni, though he would have liked to continue. Chan Ze Han became the new Grilled captain. After 80 minutes cheers broke out as Chu Xin Lee found his way through the guests' central defensive line, rattling the 4 - 3 goal in off the woodwork for Grilled. The players were tired, but when the referee announced that there would be 2 minutes of added time, they welcomed the extra opportunity to make an impact. Oh dear, Chu Xin Lee was so close to scoring an own goal when he threw out his foot at just the wrong time, but the ball hit the post. It was a fine day for Salah Kamel down the touchline, and his cross to Vikram Mudaliar 89 minutes in was executed especially well, but the keeper saved the ensuing shot. Grilled's Kalki Parvathaneni was delighted to score as he saw his shot go between the legs of the advancing keeper and into the net, following some good attacking movement on the right wing. 5 - 3 after 89 minutes. The match ends 5 - 3. Looks like Nate Silver was right again - his prediction that Grilled would have 63 percent possession in this half was spot on!

Grilled's top performer was clearly Chan Ze Han. I can't remember Chu Xin Lee ever having a worse night than he just had. The most outstanding Lightnings player was without a doubt Bobby Charlton. Speaking of stinking up the place, Shoham Chalika sure smelled like the bottom of Batman's shoe after a night of crimefighting in Gotham.