Attack Formula
Good Omens
Grilled's preseason continued in splendid fashion as they recorded a confidence-boosting 1-6 friendly win against four-time Nicaragua national champions, Formula 1, at their 70000-capacity El Gran Prix stadium. Formula 1 also have six national cups to their name, but deigned to reveal their true strength in the exhibition game and were handily dismissed.
Using just two defenders was a sign that the hosts were just experimenting, while Grilled continued to blood their young wingers, but fielded what amounted to their full first team in other positions. The difference told as Grilled coped with Formula 1's numbers up front quite easily, while Rotteveel should really have scored after having the run of the penalty box, but tried to shave it too close and hit the post instead.
Formula a's unbalanced formation did them no favours, and
Subri bin Ku Zainol soon peeled away from his marker and chipped the exposed Hungarian custodian Vazul Köszegi. Although
Dani Spirig made it two, and Rotteveel worked a brace for himself before the break, it could have been much worse without Köszegi, whose positional sense prevented a handful of sitters as Grilled passed their way around the opposition third.
This turn of events didn't sit well with passionate local winger Jesús Fresno, who despite being just 18 already had two top-level goals behind his belt. Already shouting at his teammates for most of the match, he lost his cool when the linesman flagged for out of bounds after he brought the ball up on the sidelines. When he kicked the ball into the stands in response, the referee had no choice but to pull out his yellow card.
Fresno's mood couldn't have been helped by the fact that he was being overshadowed by Grilled's own young wingers on his home ground, and
Ciro Penati nearly rubbed it in with a wonderful goal after he cut sharply infield to take a crack at goal.
Tapesh Chowdhury topped that as he went into the air to tip in a hanging cross with his toe, a very creative move that was good-naturedly applauded by sections of the home fans.
Quah Han Kok wasted a golden opportunity after great vision by Subri to flick the ball on for him, but he would later win a penalty for Grilled after having his legs taken out from under him by a late Antoni Heleniak challenge. Rotteveel closed off his hat-trick with a cheeky lob from the spot that Köszegi didn't appreciate.
The hosts at least had something to cheer about when their U-20 midfielder Alfonso Limón reminded everyone of his great promise when he collected a pass from Valeriu Neagu beautifully, and threw two defenders off his back with some mesmerizing footwork. The finish past Bao-Tam was likewise exemplary. Subri ended the day on something of a sour note when he tugged a Formula 1 midfielder back in a cynical foul, but as a celebration of football, the game served well enough.
