Lunacane Wallop
Zaccardi Zeroing
Grilled Birds were provided a reminder about humility before entering what is surely one of the toughest three-game patches of their history, by Italian II.4 leaders Lunacane United. The Rome-based Lunacane had been feted by many renowned Italian insiders as perhaps the finest team in the country, and a cup shock by giantslayers Napoli nel mio Cuore just three days ago to the contrary, Lunacane lived up to those words by winning all their competitive matches thus far this season, save for two draws.
There was, however, no secret at all about Ilídio Cabrita's tactics, which were inherited from his predecessor - defend stoutly with all hands, and snipe from distance. This was of course nothing exceptional on the surface, but from Lunacane's proud record, it remained close to impossible to grapple with when executed correctly. Grilled for their part did have at least part of the prerequesites towards breaking this gameplan, a magnificent attack; only the application remained.
The Birds were low on that, it would soon transpire, despite a star-studded lineup, and
Chan Ze Han's sparkling form would not be enough against the Italians' swarming defence. It wasn't particularly original, but it was definitely effective, and Grilled's forwards made no headway with the Lunacane players highly adept at covering each others' backs. 32 year-old skipper Antonio Gerardo Felici was in the thick of it all, and his sheer reading of the flow indicated just why he has oft been identified as one of the most-underrated masters in the land.
It wasn't as if Lunacane were bothering Grilled's goal much either in the first half-hour, but that would soon change, and without warning. Their players certainly knew their positions by heart, when David Omazzi wangled an indirect free-kick on the right side with what looked like calculated contact. Omazzi himself would deliver it straight down the line for Luciano Kamber to add his own twist, and it eventually went to Fortunat Künzi to slot home.
Manuel Vadalà hadn't been satisfying his critics since his arrival, and Lunacane would ensure that his return to his homeland would be an unhappy one, by raising further doubts about his handling of distance shooting. While Vadalà had dealt with several previous tests, his confidence appeared badly shaken by Künzi's goal, and Walter Zaccardi was only too eager to put it to trial once more. The Number Seven couldn't have hit his half-volley much better, but that was of little consolation to Vadalà, as it skipped just past his fingertips, on its merry way into the net.
Grilled were absolutely getting hammered now, as Lunacane went for the kill, and the stoppage after Kamber's rash challenge on
Moey Xin Seng in the 40th minute was little respite. For all of Moey's exhortations as Kamber was given his talking-to, the free-kick would soon go the other way as the referee wasn't amused by
Kalle ter Berg's repeated encroachment, and David Omazzi would ironically flight it straight past the despairing Vadalà.
It hardly got better after the restart, as the always-perky Kamber found Vadalà out from thirty yards, immediately after collecting the ball for the first time this half.
Eren Serpin could only throw his hands up at that, with several Grilled players furtively glancing at each other, no doubt thinking that one of them should have closed the rightback down.
The Birds did put up a more respectable display as the game wore on, probably aided by Lunacane seeing no reason to extend themselves - as they were entitled to, with a four-goal lead.
Yuta Nakakita came on for
Bhavya Panigrahi with fifteen minutes to go, not that Panigrahi would have fond memories here. There would be a couple more half-chances through
Bilal Mohammad Harun and then Lodewijk Regeer, that last on which
Manuel Vadalà would redeem himself to a minute extent, with a fine diving stop.