Samy Sad
Peter Gets It
Grilled couldn't get a breakthrough against Czech side Samý_sádlo in normal time, as their five-man backline proved impregnable for the full ninety minutes. SS had conceded but a single goal, from a set-piece at that, in the group stages, and were never going to be easy pickings for Grilled.
The match was held at Quidditch Arena, belonging to Tanzanian side Sumbawanga Sunfurays. Grilled fielded their youth players on the wing, and the lack of defensive instinct showed as they were often found wanting in tracking back. Not that SS were that prolific either, as they took 25 minutes for their first good chance, a lob that their target man Lars Anders Skov placed narrowly over.
There was much concern when Rotteveel fell heavily after a collision in mid-air, and appeared to have the wind knocked out of him. Luckily, that was all there was to it, and he way able to wave away the medics before they could reach him. SS skipper Luca Terrin was not as fortunate with
Weng Seng-Huat's weighty tackle, though, and had to be replaced by Dobromil Ondru.
It was difficult to play proper football against such a defensive alignment, though SS had every right to pack their defence. The only highlight of a otherwise yawn-inducing second half was a flashing strike that carromed off the bar by
Ciro Penati, that had the Italian winger punching the ground in disgust.
The tight marking caused tempers to flare, and both
Sándor Deme of Grilled and Vladimír Smutek of SS were yellow carded for rather silly gestures that added nothing. Well, perhaps they did add something, as the remaining spectators were grateful for anything that broke the tedium, and awarded both men scattered cheers.
The game went into extra time, and few would have bet against it going to penalties.
Peter Fjällbratt had other ideas, though, and found the slightest of openings to bounce a strike past the largely untested Stan Backx to settle the tie.
