Yakutsk Clampdown
Many of the Grilled players looked disbelieving as Thunder savoured their victory after the final whistle, but to
Moey Xin Seng, the Bulgarians had earned it. "They put three past us, and they were all excellent counters." the club captain said. "We had our chances, we didn't take them. That's all."
Chan Ze Han would be particularly hard on himself for his late miss that also led to the opponents' winning goal, but Moey felt that the defeat should be taken into context. "Better this happens in an unofficial tourney, than in the cup or league." he waxed philosophically. "He can make up for it on Sunday!"
Elsewhere, Farmer Bunnies were no match for former Portuguese Super Liga winners Yakutsk Snøskred, who had also won the Taça de Portugal just last season. That presaged another name change from Vinn eller dö, which did not affect their underlying strength in the least. Radu Urlan would set Yakutsk on their way in the tenth minute, and while the Buns did have several half-hearted counters late on, it was probably always going to be too late following Hans Lacount's second.
Bunnies were lucky to avoid a Urlan hat-trick, actually, and the tournament semifinals will thus see Yakutsk Snøskred take on Uroxx FC in the first semi-finals, with FC Silent Thunder and Steeple Sinderby Wanderers - both whom had beaten the Birds - contest the other semis. Buns acting skipper
Vishnu Tallapaka was unsentimental about who he wished to win it all. "Am I supposed to care, now that we're out of it?"
Before this, Grilled International had stumbled yet again in the league, on this occasion against Portugal's New Vikings away. This could however be accounted a good result, given how the Vikings were still unbeaten in the league. A heroic second-half comeback would be involved, as
Ragib Banović and
Safari bin Hj Jali rescued International from two goals down.
There would be much concern for Vikings winger Leonel Barata, who would have to depart in the 64th minute after an ugly-looking unintentional stamp on his left calf by
Osertz Indurain, who did look suitably mortified afterwards. Thankfully, reports have it that no permanent damage was done.
