Baton Rogued
Fu Through
Grilled accepted a home friendly invitation against Russian Division Five side Anduin-baton, as a preliminary warm-up for the FdgfD Cup. Academy player
Fu Jun Chang was allowed a chance to draw attention to himself and did so with an energetic performance and a goal, as Grilled overpowered the visitors to win 6-1.
van Liere was undeniably the star of a rather weak Grilled selection, but he was virtually anonymous in the first half as his younger colleagues bore the brunt of the workload. Mirchev indeed even eschewed van Liere's support, as he cut into the box himself and barely escaped being tackled. That was enough to claim the opener though, as 19 year-old Ukraine goalie German Turovskiy decided to stay on his line and ended up being easily beaten.
Anduin-baton's central defender Pavel Reutskiy did entertain the previously quiet onlookers with a cheeky spate of keepy-uppy in the middle of the game. That was received in good cheer by most of the Grilled team, though Reutskiy was soon found to be a little lacking in pure speed. Young
Peter Fjällbratt dashed right past him to meet a short lob from Talib with his forehead, and sent the ball soaring past Turovskiy into the net.
A heartwarming moment followed as
Fu Jun Chang notched his first senior goal. Fu had delayed his matriculation by a year in an attempt to extend his dream of turning professional, and though a marginal talent at best his determination should put him in good stead.
Talib closed off the half with an elegant sidestep around Turovskiy, while Firdaus tried to at least get on the scoresheet after managing a hat-trick in his last outing. No such luck for the Malay striker as his touch deserted him and he sent his effort soaring way over the crossbar.
Hjortlind got the fifth goal in businesslike fashion, and Fjällbratt made yet another of those calculated fouls that he is beginning to get known for. van Liere blew his volley well wide, and Grilled spluttered until the visitors got their consolation goal four minutes from time. Russian defender Pavel Reutskiy comfortably sent Bao-Tam sprawling the wrong way from a penalty given for handball by Tuan-Mu.
That was not the end as Hjortlind displayed sufficient hunger to follow up a ball hit the length of the pitch by Talib, and when Ivan Andreev showed hesitation in approaching it Hjortlind shoved past him and was through in a flash to make it six-one.
