Reds Sinking
Rotteveel Attraction
Maikel Rotteveel gained extra legitimacy as the new Martinsson by picking up a league double after scoring on his debut, which gave the Birds some breathing space in the relegation battle. van Liere kept pace with his third league goal too, while Sid increased his tally to four, remaining Grilled's top scorer this season.
Grilled's team practically picked itself as injuries forced their coach's hand, but for the first time in a long while their supporters could look forward to a dynamic three-man strikeforce. Subri and Simon had found their footing in an international friendly a few days back, with Rotteveel returning to spearhead the attack.
L1verpool appeared to be in a funk with their star man Wong Yun Qiang, an ex-U20 midfielder, looking haggard, and their only creative outlet was tall Canadian left-winger Mark Mahmoud, a situation which Grilled are not unfamiliar with. There would be no mercy as Grilled desperately need the points, though, and Grilled began hammering their way through the middle from the get-go.
There was some impatience as L1verpool matched Grilled in the midfield department, as their extra man there told. This did not mask the fact that Grilled were always going to be dangerous when they got through, and indeed Rotteveel was a revelation in his sheer pace and timing. Receiving a routine pass from Han Kok, he turned Lin Khong Hai expertly and drifted across half the visitors' backline before burying the ball past Lenny Offerman.
There was a rapturous response as Grilled's fans cheered their new hero, and van Liere got into the act by thumping in a second just two minutes later. Grilled were in cruising mode by now, but still managed to get a deserved third when Sid got his chance from the top of the penalty area after van Liere was felled.
With the win all but assured against a lacklustre L1verpool side, Grilled went lax in the second half as the visitors actually won more possession. A single frontman meant that they were never going to make it count, though, and Sid went very close with a scorcher from open play before Rotteveel seared himself into the public consciousness with a magnificent solo goal in the 76th minute.
Grilled may be out of defenders against Herron, unfortunately, as
Nawaz Talib collected his third yellow card of the season by going in recklessly on Yun Qiang. Grilled will have to pray for Bona's quick recovery more than ever, but for now they will not forget to celebrate three precious points in the bag.
