Gschächnütscleaner
Grilled's busy off-season continued with the Supporter Week Trophy, which saw them win two and draw one, of the four matches on the first day. Bern club Gschächnütschlimmers would humble the Birds 4-1 in the opening fixture, however, as Austrian veteran wingback Franz Florian sparkled with two goals from persistent follow-up play.
Chan Ze Han got one back early on, as he snapped up a loose ball from
Aw Keng Chuan's corner attempt.
Clean sheets against H.I. seventh divisioners SD Chompostela and German VI.473 team FC BlauRot 22 came next, with
Chad Thach shining brightest in the 3-0 against the former's heavy pressing, before
Gandhik Chitre cut loose with a hat-trick versus a far more casual BlauRot. Portuguese V.222 club F. C. Medense then kept Grilled to a goalless draw, as Isidor Klangén saved a penalty off
Bhavya Panigrahi; they then hung on after Italian defensive midfielder Emidio Ginelli got sent off in the 73rd minute.
It was the same for Farmer Bunnies if with fewer goals, as they started out getting wiped 0-4 by Czech VI.9 favourites, TJ Sokol Libanon. None of the Buns' defenders could get a read on unorthodox Pakistani striker Hussein Hisham, who dazzled his way to a brace. The Buns did improve against H.I. V.192 club AVK New Team, with
Edgar Popienia securing a 1-1 draw, and AVK's Junior Stefanus dismissed for dissent late on.
German side Odense EK and Swiss H.A.L club Mooney VR46 FC - both Division Six - were then taken down by the single goal, as
Amirul Jufri Khairil completed a counter in the first instance amidst more roughhousing and another sending-off, this time for Torbjörn Sieden. Popienia then lent more credence to his goal threat as he fed off an unconfident jump by Mooney custodian Marcus Gleizes, with six minutes remaining.
Grilled International started with a victory, but wound up with a slightly inferior record, as they first took Barbados H.A.L VI.37 representatives Saint Peter C.F. down 2-1. Antoine McCreery missed a penalty in the 39th minute, though he did later beat
Querubim Santos Couto from the spot, in the second half.
Norwegian Division Two high-fliers Tøyen Killers Jr and Irish Division Three former national cupwinners Squadra Verde then clapped international in turn, recording a 4-0 and 6-0 respectively, despite their very different styles of play. Italian seventh divisioners Hellade San Marco Avesa then gave International a breather, as they forfeited their match.