Woots Whacked
Birds At Attention
Grilled continued to build on their first victory in some time by thoroughly thrashing Division Five hopefuls newcastlewoots in the Cup. They were good value for the margin of victory enjoyed, as they fielded a first-team side still hurting from their unexpected relegation.
Some fans questioned Liehner's decision to risk so many strong players what was more or less a formality, but the German coach explained that his men needed to limber up heading into Tinombala's challenge on Sunday. He was vindicated as the team escaped without injury, and the hosts' early performance further supported him, as they fought for every ball and made the going tough for Grilled's professionals.
Eventually, Malaysian former U-20 international Subri decided to go back to basics, and let rip a powerful effort after a neat square pass by Penati. newcastlewoots goalkeeper Sng Jia Jia couldn't get anywhere near that, and his team's defensive will finally collapsed after Branbilla nudged in a second goal off Han Kok's breathtaking run down the other flank.
The Grilled vice-captain has been in a purple patch after his recall to the national squad, and moreover the speed that made him so feared in his younger days had not completely disappeared. Against defender Cao Youjiang, Quah displayed exemplary acceleration for a guy half his age, and sent the ball smartly by Jia Jia. MacKinnon had the luxury of firing right into the goalkeeper, as Rotteveel and Spirig contributed to make it 5-0 by half-time.
To the hosts' credit, they played a hard but fair game, with striker Irfan Bakti being the only recepient of a yellow card throughout the game. It might have been a case of exhaustion as the game wore on, as the hosts' players were clearly not used to chasing that fervently.
Zoltán Árva headed in the sixth by going it alone down the right side, then Subri poached the seventh thanks to Quah's weaving past two defenders.
Quah was not quite finished, and the 32 year-old claimed only the fourth hat-trick of his long career in midfield, following up a long strike with a finish of some technique with just four minutes on the clock.
Dani Spirig managed to get a goal in either half too, as he pounced on overelaborate play by the newcastlewoots defenders to create an easy chance for himself.
