Clouds darkened the skies at the stadium today. Starters: Vadalà - Panigrahi, Webb - Mohammad Harun, Thach, Keng Chuan, Chu Soon, Kwang Tse - Xin Seng, Xin Lee, Chuan Yong.

The following players took the field: Rembrandt - Kulagić, Karjanmaa, Scorza, Derakov - Dingilevskis, Mósca, Abolin, Tellner - Işıman, van Uijtregt.

Grilled Birds fielded a 2-5-3 lineup. For SC Thusnelda 03, the formation of choice was a 4-4-2. Grilled went for a narrow approach, using their mythical (17) ability to focus their attacks down the middle. Some great play up the middle by Grilled led to a chance for Moey Xin Seng to get the go-ahead goal with 16 minutes played, but the shot hit the crossbar. 17 minutes into the game, Refik Abolin put the finishing touch on a counter-attack down the left wing by Thusnelda. 0 - 1. Grilled's Chia Kwang Tse was shown a yellow card after 19 minutes for slicing down an opponent. A blatant handball in the penalty area gave the home team a penalty after 20 minutes, and Bhavya Panigrahi was able to score the 1 - 1 goal. Chu Xin Lee gave Grilled the 2 - 1 lead, as he successfully challenged the guests' central defenders, then placed the ball at the keeper's right post – what a clinical finish! Inácio Mósca finished off a quick charge from the left of the field by chipping the ball just over the home side's keeper, making the score 2 - 2 32 minutes into the game. 2 - 2 was the score after the first half. Grilled set the tempo, maintaining 58 percent of possession.

With the clock showing 46 minutes, the fourth official held up the substitution board. Chia Kwang Tse looked to see that it was his number in red, so he made his way over to the sideline and swapped out for Lim An Keng, though he would have liked to continue. It's one thing for the keeper to make a save, but to miss the target completely from a penalty kick is a real mistake. Murathan Işıman has his head in his hands after doing just that 47 minutes in. Thusnelda had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 65 minutes in when Ko van Uijtregt found himself alone with Manuel Vadalà who managed a block. After 75 minutes, the Grilled coach wanted to see a new face on the field, waving Bilal Mohammad Harun off. Enrique Baena took his place. As the 75 minute mark approached, the Grilled manager decided it was time for a substitution. Chad Thach reluctantly made way for Paulino Trindade. Grilled players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. Oh dear - the keeper's made a mess of that one. The crowd was very disappointed after he let Ko van Uijtregt get the go-ahead goal with a speculative shot from the right after 78 minutes. 2 - 3. With 80 minutes gone, Thusnelda's organization began to suffer due to a lack of experience. Thusnelda were pushed back, and had many dangerous counter-attacks. An impressive one resulted in a free kick 85 minutes into the match, but Murathan Işıman put it just wide. It was announced by the fourth official that he estimated stoppage time to be around 1 minutes. This meant there could still be an extra attack or two left in the match! The match ends 2 - 3. Grilled did a good job holding on to the ball, with 55 percent of possession. We'll be back after these interminable commercial messages.

The most outstanding Grilled player was without a doubt Moey Xin Seng. Even six year old fans were wincing at the poor play by Paulino Trindade today. Thusnelda's top performer was clearly Ko van Uijtregt. I can't remember Hartti Karjanmaa ever having a worse night than he just had.