Hard Wonz
Rotteveel Double
Grilled entered the fifth round on the back of a scrappy 2-5 victory against Division Four club WontLoze UTD, whose over 30000-capacity stadium in the city area was filled to the brim for the contest. Grilled were suitably wary of yet another early exit, and fielded six first-teamers. Nevertheless, WontLoze put up some stiff resistance, and even managed to score twice.
Experience proved its worth, and youth its risks, as
Ahmad Tharmini bin Selamat played a doubtful backpass which was promptly nicked by journeyman Israeli winger Udi Yefet on the go. Fortunately for him, Árva had spotted the mistake, and slid in to put it out for a throw. That warning was duly taken by the Birds, and Rotteveel finally polished off one of his chances just after the half-hour mark.
Grilled would hold their lead to the end, even after
Dani Spirig was rested for
Ivaylo Mirchev after Subri kept his cool to make it two-nothing. Star Canadian forward Gniewko Sulewski narrowed it down with a brilliant first touch taking the ball past Grilled's central defence, but Mirchev would immediately justify his addition with a speculative first time volley that Banegas could only deflect into his own net.
There was a worrying moment in first-half added time, after
Feng Darong tried to run down the clock with an aimless dribble along the sidelines. Belgian rightback August Gilson would have no more of it after half a minute, and leapt at the ball apparantly not caring too much if he caught Feng in the process. That did indeed relieve Feng of possession, but at the cost of a yellow card. Feng had to spend much of the fifteen-minute break receiving treatment.
The hosts were not cowed by Grilled's ability, and Yngvar Jonsson proved that the classic one-two punch of accurate cross met by powerful header could work against any team. German centreback Luither Glauch dove fearlessly into the dropping ball, and though Valdir nearly got a leg to it, the header was just too strong to be kept out.
Grilled didn't find creating opportunities especially easy with Penati still out through injury, but
John MacKinnon provided another avenue of attack when he held the ball up expertly within the opposition penalty area. That prompted a panicked tackle by a defender, and the big Scotsman obliged by falling heavily upon contact. Rotteveel scored the penalty, then was cautioned for a lazy trip on Glauch.
Another of Grilled's young players fell by the wayside as
Ahmad Tharmini bin Selamat pulled up in pain with fifteen minutes to go, prompting the entry of
Nawaz Talib. It thus made quite a contrast when his 44 year-old senior
Lan Tuan-Mu sped upfield to rock the netting with his third Cup goal of the season, even as a 19 year-old junior had to be helped off.
