Boscar Bested
Starostenko Stars
The Birds might have defeated Cuban II.1 club Boscar A.S.D. in the week's World Battle tournament, but the brightest spot of the game was probably their Russian striker Pavel Starostenko, who was the only player to score twice in Grilled's 6-3 win. The 33 year-old has already scored eight goals in his ten competitive outings thus far this season, and this impressive form would continue here today.
Under the same management group as Italy's Piobesi Calcio, Boscar are currently making their push for the Primera División Cubana, having finished runners-up in their Division Two league last year - which is also where they reside now. Head coach Isaías Manzanares had bolstered his squad by signing Giorgio Vigliotti and Yannik Steynitz in the post-season, both of whom would start today. As for the Birds,
Abd Hadi Taib Mazhud would be in the centre with
Shekar Kannan pushed wide right, and
Gilbert Webb provided another chance to prove himself and perhaps earn a spot in the first XI.
Webb had the misfortune of being directly up against Starostenko, sadly, which will do no good for his restoration. The first twenty minutes or thereabouts was a huge midfield struggle, not helped by Abd Hadi being off the boil, and often forced to react to the very active Luis Alberto García. The key pass would come from S$8 million man Vigliotti, however, as he ranged up the right side in the 22nd minute. Webb's attempt to meet him upfront only resulted in becoming badly exposed, which left Starostenko to stuff it past
Jānis Salmiņš at full power.
Grilled would at least not take very long to answer this provocation, though
Heng Dong Chu elected to come inside instead. A good understanding with
Chu Xin Lee left him with a second's window to take his shot, and he curled it in at Corrado Lianas' far corner without hesitation.
Chan Ze Han would come off the worse in contrast for once, as he was served it up by Abd Hadi soon after, only to miscue his lob badly. There would then be a commotion at the other end as
Bhavya Panigrahi completely wiped Starostenko off his feet as Boscar sought to bite back, which nearly developed into an on-field brawl.
The match officials would take a couple of minutes to restore order, and many of the Boscar supporters remained dissatisfied by Panigrahi managing to stay on the pitch, with just a yellow card to his name. They would perk up on the long-delayed free-kick, that Xaver Schleevogt made as if to shoot from, only to dig it forward for Teodor Yanchev to distribute wide. A couple more passes later, and captain Yannik Steynitz was found free to tap it in unopposed.
That was frankly some disastrous defending from the Birds, not that they were ever known for it. Operation Score-more-than-them would thus be put into action, and Panigrahi's bid to make instant amends would fly narrowly over, to a blanket of jeers. It would however be the Birds' fans to celebrate, as Chu's equalizer following a mazy dribble would be followed by
Vikram Mudaliar's spot-on half-volley, which had Grilled enter half-time in front, against expectations.
Starostenko and Panigrahi appeared to have come to terms after their conversation whilst striding off, but there was no question that the Russian would be the better of the duo here. Bakhtiar's double change of Kalki and Kamel on for Heng and Teo seemed on balance a plus for Grilled, but stout defending from Beppino Larini in particular saw the Birds stymied. It would instead be Starostenko to put it in the net once more, as he positioned himself exactly where the rebound from Vigliotti's fierce attempt went.
That was some striker's instinct indeed, and a Boscar draw - or even upset - didn't feel too far off the cards, what with their Number 25 sparkling with every touch... for a minute or two at least.
Chan Ze Han had not been at the best in general, but Boscar simply gave him too much space in the 63rd minute. Larini and Leinwetter were left staring at each other, as Chan ran at them and then quickly slotted it to the bottom left corner, as the challenge finally arrived.
4-3 now, which would become five as
Bhavya Panigrahi converted an excellent free-kick in the 69th minute. For his next take, he would play it short into the box, and several inconclusive duels would leave
Abd Hadi Taib Mazhud with a tap-in to make.
