Tachira Tempest
Stupendous Slyngborg
Venezuelean side Union Atletico Tachira may have finished seventh in the Campeonato, but the top flight's loss was certainly not Grilled's gain as Tachira felt free to field their first team - which convincingly mopped the floor with Grilled's chosen eleven. Ex-Division Two top scorer Børge Bo Slyngborg was a revelation, slamming four past Bao-Tam in front of the three thousand strong home support.
It was only seconds when Slyngborg made an impression, with a sweet nutmeg of bin Che Lah. Wisely he played the ball to the middle, then vanished to stake out a good position for the return ball. It came, and while
Hang Bao-Tam tried to narrow the angles Slyngborg made good on the difficult winding shot. Grilled hadn't strung any passes together when Swedish journeyman Jörn Vinterhall feinted his way past bin Che Lah on the right flank. A strong left foot settled the duel with Bao-Tam, and Grilled were two behind in five minutes.
To his credit,
Nor Suhaimi bin Che Lah redoubled his defensive efforts and plugged the gap. A fierce challenge on Davidsson was flagged down by the linesman however, resulting in a booking. Bulgarian winger Ionicã Enache broke loose of
Weng Seng-Huat as the free-kick was distributed wide, and his scything cross to the near post went in with a delightful little touch from Slyngborg. Bao-Tam stemmed the tide in the 23rd minute when he came from nowhere to parry Petter Davidsson's bender from afar. Grilled managed to slow the pace by passing it around at the back, and conceded no more goals until the break.
If Slyngborg might have been hampered by the damp pitch, he had clearly adapted by the second half. Going on a head-on collision course with Tuan-Mu, the experienced defender bailed out at the last moment and paid the price. Slyngbord kept his footing magnificently, and slid his hat-trick goal into the left corner. Hjortlind responded to that with a biting tackle that he was fortunate not to be sent off for. Grilled's midfield of the future seemed rather lightweight against real professionals, and Paullin especially had an off-day.
Slyngborg had the final word when he charged unopposed down the right flank to get to a punted long ball, lobbing Bao-Tam almost nonchalently. Eager to follow his partner on the scoresheet, Davidsson clashed with Tuan-Mu for a high ball and left the Grilled defender in a pile on the ground. The sturdy Tuan-Mu was back up in moments though, and commanded his defence well for the rest of the game with a plaster on his forehead.
