One Win Less
So Close Yet So Far
By pulling together a tenth consecutive victory against FC RaZer Infernus, Grilled came within three points of the S-League title as Herron grabbed their tenth title despite being held to a goalless draw with Chemistry. United Warrior Team did their bit by winning against the team that never was, but could not overcome the vast goal difference between the sides.
Things would have been a lot different had Grilled won any of the matches in the mid-season three match losing streak, and as it was the fixture was somewhat anticlimatic for a season that had begun with such promise. The identity of the opponents guaranteed interest, though, and the Coliseum d'Hauts Esprits was practically full as RaZer fans waited for the long-awaited humbling of the Birds.
They could not be blamed for thinking that the day had finally come, as they put out an impressively stolid defence, albeit by packing five at the bad, and managed to nick one through a trademark Wang Wee-Hwa set-piece header in the 31st minute. A good percentage of the veteran's 40 career goals had come through his height and spring, and he collected one more with his temporary marker
Lee Jie Siong a total mismatch.
As has been the case for some time against Grilled, their joy was short-lived as the Razer defence inexplicably parted to allow Sid a good look at Jiao-Long's goal. It was not the wisest of decisions against a player famed for his thunderous right foot, and Sid obliged by drilling a magnificent specimen into the roof of the net.
Grilled then enjoyed a brief spell of excellence when they could do no wrong, and the final scoreline might have been much worse for the home team had Jiao-Long not been on top form, first keeping out Han Kok's header despite being unsighted, and then spreading himself well to swallow up Paullin's effort, and then Lik-Tsun's follow-up.
Just when they thought they had made it to the break on level terms,
Subri bin Ku Zainol flicked the ball solidly onto a defender's outstretched arm. That contact had been made was undeniable, and the referee could only point to the spot. Jiao-Long moved a little too late to stop penalty expert Sid's placed shot.
Sid then got to double digits for the league season, surely some feat for a defender, when RaZer's Weng Shen was flagged by the linesman for having his hands on Rotteveel's shirt as Grilled's second-half offense unfolded. Already having seen one given against them, the fans were in no mood to be generous, and neither were the RaZer players. It took a couple of minutes for them to be pacified, though that mattered nought to Sid who again did the job for his third career hat-trick.
Rotteveel had his own quest to ten goals on hold, and the rising Swede star got himself cautioned in his eagerness to catch up to Subri and Sid. He wasn't exactly far away with a strike from outside the box, as RaZer regained their defensive organization, but the ball failed to dip enough in the end.
There would be one last goal to round off a moderately successful season, but it would come from
Quah Han Kok, who has perhaps the best claim to be the face of Grilled after Kek-Tjiang's departure. The one-club man accelerated past his marker in a dizzying burst of speed and arched a lob just over Jiao-Long to put the game to rest.
