Apex 3 - 2 Grilled Birds
Point Of Impact
Siu-Yue Scare
Friendly woes continued as Grilled subcummbed 2-3 at South African Premier League team Apex. The Black Rhinos let in two in the first half, but clawed their way back in the second before native midfielder Garry Collins settled the tie in extra time.
Grilled set Rottman on the flanks in an unprecendented move, and played
Asher Stanton and
Au-Yong Siu-Yue in the middle. Dubbed the Asses due to their initials, they proved themselves anything but dumb as they unlocked the Apex backline together in the eight minute. 36 year old Martin Fredriksson had not the legs to beat youthful Bulgarion stallion
Milen Kolesov, and Kolesov spun the ball wide of Steven Saxon, a highly heralded Under 20 recruit who is still just seventeen.
Apex's Scandanavian connection played a one-two in the 32nd minute as tall winger Leif Olsson flew past Rottman on the outside and delivered a high one to Norwegian striker Jesper Lindø Westergaard. He lacked a couple of inches, though, and did not head the tantalising cross cleanly, saving Huel-sheng.
Grilled's worst dreams came true soon after as
Au-Yong Siu-Yue developed a pronounced limp after a sprint down the middle. After a hasty consultation, Öhmo decided not to risk the U-20 prospect, and for the second time in three friendlies
Antonio Fernández Riviera subbed the unlucky Singaporean. He announced his arrival immediately by picking up Paullin's weighted lob in the six-yard box and crashing a snap shot onto the bar. There was a scuffle for the rebound, and the ball went to
Lan Tuan-Mu who did one better with his effort, raising the Birds to a two goal lead. Leery of more injury trouble, Öhmo signalled for a slower pace as the first half finished.
Apex did well on Grilled's inexperienced wings, and Romanian striker Mircea Iordache ate away at Grilled's advantage when he was first to a cross from American winger Mark Moss as the Grilled defence was all out at sea. Grilled were prospering in attack, and Saxon bailed his team out more than once with a string of superlative saves. Sweeper Martin Fredriksson got into the act too with some important tackles, but was very late once on
Tim Hobson, earning the first caution of the match.
No matter, as Thai defender
Nui Pakpao failed to cut out an aerial pass to space on the right. Moss reached the loose ball and tipped it back to Garry Collins, who faked a look to his side before pushing the ball past Huel-sheng to even it out. Chastised, Pakpao immersed himself in the game but only achieved a yellow card when he took Fraser's feet from under him. Fraser retaliated in kind and got booked too in the ugly incident.
The game then proceeded into extra time, with Riviera severely lacking match fitness and Paullin's chronically poor stamina kicking in. It was not unexpected when Apex's blue and green stripes overwhelmed Grilled in the first minute of the third period, with their attack passing through Olsson and cumulating in Collins winning the game for the Rhinos with his second goal.
