Straightforward Clearance
Hjortlind Double
After weeks of injury-ridden contests, Grilled were just thankful for an uneventful win, as they defeated Clementi Islanders by eight goals to enter the fifth round of the Singapore Cup. The hosts could not be faulted for lack of ambition, as they were happy to take the game to Grilled and were expectedly suckered by a quick break down the right by
Zoltán Árva.
Islanders goalie Ming Thien-Ky will be proud of his two-fisted save from Rotteveel, and the industrious semi-professionals appeared to have made it to half-time just a single goal down when Grilled exploded into life.
Sándor Deme was undefendable when he ran onto a good corner kick by Branbilla, then two by Hjortlind and one by Rotteveel erased all hopes of an upset.
The match was played at a significantly more leisurely pace after the break, with the Islanders rather deflated by Grilled's surge, and Grilled not eager to risk more unnecessary injuries. The hosts did suffer one, as their captain Huang Tso-Yu crashed into an advertising hoarding while trying to retrieve a loose ball. The forward had to be helped off with a gashed leg, while Li Jing-Jon came in for him.
Grilled's youth couldn't bear the slow, tactical play much longer, though, and began to hog the ball in an attempt to make things happen. They were encouraged by the crowd, who too were bored at the proceedings, and in short order
Tapesh Chowdhury struck successfully once more with a flying kick.
Ciro Penati then had his time in the limelight, as his teammates sensed the young Italian's determination to score. Penati had a worthy solo run denied by Ming Thien-Ky's quality dive, but was not discouraged and ended the game with a well-taken brace thanks to Hjortlind's assists. It could have gone badly for
Weng Seng-Huat after he made another mistimed challenge after his sending-off just last week, but fortunately for him the referee was lenient and decided on a yellow.
