Tino Test Passed
Rotteveel Makes Good
Grilled won their first match in II.3 in solid if unspectacular fashion over last season's runners-up Tinombala FC, who have other problems of their own as key striker Lin Shang mei got crocked in their Cup match four days ago. With Lin's threat removed through no merit of their own, Grilled were able to become the only side in the league to keep a clean sheet.
The stage was set for a nervy start as the home supporters wondered how the drop had affected the team's morale, but they need not have worried. The outstanding Han Kok made a driving run into the Tinombala area in the second minute, prompting the young rightback Jesús Martínez to bump him off balance in desperation. The shoulder charge might have been overlooked by some referees, but not this one - Alban Debroubaix gave the penalty instantly.
Sid would usually have taken the kick, but with the long-serving Polish defender officially leaving the club,
Maikel Rotteveel took over. The Dutch forward did the job by ramming the ball down the middle, repeating his feat of scoring against Tinombala in the friendly, and also becoming the first to score in the league.
Grilled followed up the fortituous start with some vintage passing football, and had they achieved this level in the final few games last season, it would be a safe bet that they would still be in the S-League. The ever-improving
Ciro Penati gave Maxime Perdreau a lot of trouble with his quick changes of direction, and in the 24th minute Penati lobbed in a flat cross that was well met by Spirig. Wang Wai-Kit came very close to the Swiss midfielder's header, but couldn't quite reach it.
Now two-nil up, Grilled continued cranking up the pressure as their supporters got behind the team. Spirig was put through by Branbilla in good time, but his poked shot drifted slightly too wide and clipped the outside of the post. Penati then should really have won a second penalty when he was pushed aside by Popa just inside the box, but the referee, perhaps reconsidering his earlier decision, let it go. Penati predictably protested, and was cautioned for his pains.
Grilled were unable to maintain their standards into the second half, and it was Tinombala's turn to pose the questions. They were never able to mount a sustained threat with a single man up front, however. Most of their attempts to go it long were cut out by Grilled's experienced central defenders, with the exception of a single precise ball that got to Tan Ting Sze, who should really have at least troubled Valdir with his shot.
Tinombala replaced their 34 year-old player-coach Ng Dong An with the slightly older Jiu Sang-Thong in an attempt to inject some energy down the right flank, but while they continued trying until the very end, it was just too difficult to breach a conservative Grilled backline.
