Single Sting
Looi Scare
Ownerless Durian_picker proved their mettle as they didn't make things easy for Grilled, who nevertheless wrapped up an expected win at The Cooking Pot. The Birds gave league starts to rookies
Ciro Penati and
Tapesh Chowdhury, and while they didn't exactly shine, they weren't passengers either as they brought exuberance to the right flank.
The Durians hadn't yet managed a victory this season, but did ensure that they wouldn't end without a point as they laboured to a goalless draw against Team Singapore. Their streak didn't look likely to end as Subri put Grilled ahead as early as the fourth minute, as he ran onto a bouncing pass from Paullin and touched it past Turkish goalie Naci Barkal.
That lulled Grilled into a phase of complacency, unfortunately, which would get them into trouble against the diligent Durian players. The visitors were not without talent, and old campaigner Remeli Yahaya held the ball up expertly and got it to ex-U20 international Looi Keng Xin, who sliced a tremendous effort up into the far top corner to beat Valdir.
With the wake-up call served, Grilled began to sharpen up, and
Maikel Rotteveel got over his disappointment at having his 10-game scoring run broken on Wednesday by banging them in again. It was probably a mistake for the Durians to keep a high line, leaving only the veteran Ye Da-Li with the lethal Dutchman, as all it took was a simple ball over the top by Talib for Rotteveel to outpace his man and slot it in.
Sid's attacking instincts proved useful two minutes later, as the Polish wingback continues to diversify into open play goals. Finding himself in a central position after Han Kok had chased a winger deep into his own end, Sid followed up an incisive run by Subri, and was happy to see a blocked strike spin to his right foot. His powerful return blast was tipped slightly by Barkal, but not nearly enough as it would up at the back of the net.
Talib's uncompromising tackling won him his second yellow card of the season, as he sent Tsai Soon-Jung sprawling after going in a fraction too late. Grilled had their chances to extend the lead, but only Rotteveel took his, as Spirig knocked his attempt against the post. Gusty Turkish midfielder Serhat Maruf didn't slacken as he kept up with his dogged shadowing of Grilled's Quah, but was eventually taken to task for one too many niggling fouls, and given a booking.
