Seeing Stars
Four-goal Fightback
Grilled's long-suffering reserve side were on course for a win against Bangladesh Premier League side Asian All Stars FC, but a crushing comeback in the second half by the hosts scuppered those dreams, and left Grilled's second team with just one victory in this season's eight friendlies thus far.
Not one to pass up an opportunity to experiment, vice-captain and coach for the night
Lan Tuan-Mu ordered the team to press their opponents every step of the way. While unpopular, the decision quickly proved its value, when Swee Pheng pounced on the slow-turning Bonnefoy to rob him of the ball in the third minute. Qiu instantly knocked it down wide left where Mohd Firadus was supposed to be, and the 18 year-old striker was indeed there.
Firadus shielded it expertly from Canadian defender Simon Piché, and without warning sent a real cracker into the near post as Asian All Stars' keeper Sigis Kantanavicius couldn't believe his eyes.
The home team got frustrated with Grilled's high-tempo defending that took place even in their own half, and mistakes began to mount up in their play. A misconceived square pass by their midfield was intercepted by Abd Hamid, and Ødegaard sprang the offside trap with the assistance of the forwards. With some distance between him and the chasing defenders, the Norwegian teenager had time to compose himself and direct a grounder past Kantanavicius.
Quah Han Kok then came on for Bukhari, who was badly rattled in a collision, just in time to watch Erik Emberger pull one back for Asian All Stars off a wonderpass from winger Reinder Buskermolen. Ødegaard replied before the break with a hasty volley. That Asian All Stars considered Ødegaard a real threat was confirmed by their Romanian midfielder Poenaru, who got a caution for pulling the red-hot player down despite him being nowhere near their goal.
The second half bore no resemblance to the first, as Grilled's industry in defence totally deserted them. Seventeen year-old Raimund Witthaus was virtually allowed to walk into the six-yard box unchallenged, and when the ineviatable cross came Bao-Tam had no hope of saving Witthaus' assured header.
There was some consternation as Emberger got booked too for standing right in front of a free-kick that Alcántara tried to take quickly, blocking the resultant pass. All was forgotten though when the retaken free-kick was chested down poorly by Jie Siong, and a direct pass into the Grilled penalty area saw Poenaru profit with a well-hit goal.
Grilled were by now holding out for the draw, but even that was not to be as Erik Emberger gave his side the lead for the first time with a confident header across the face of goal that clipped the inside of the post before bouncing over the line. It was left to Greek youngster Dimitrakis Mpoulis to confirm the result, as he easily sprinted past the tiring legs of Tuan-Mu to trick Bao-Tam for the final goal.
