Buiter Sweet
Phua One
Grilled's reserves had their European retreat cut short as they were forced to get on a flight back to Singapore, as Dutch side lfc buiter consented to visit the Lion City rather than play hosts.
The first half was a facsimile of the usual Grilled friendly game, with the Birds given the runaround by a technically proficient buiter side. 18 year-old German winger Darius Heinrichsen exemplified his club's focus, as he shielded a pass simply but effectively from Chuan Heng, before tapping it into Bao-Tam's goal.
Filipina forward Ariel Tambo-ong, no stranger to the humidity, was in his element, and came very close after an indirect free-kick was delivered his way. Ariel would complete a brace in the closing minutes of the half, after Juan Eduardo Maggi and Sason Tubi both finished well for buiter.
Grilled did at least show some effort, with
Zulkiflee bin Othman going slightly overboard with his late tackle that Dutch forward Simon van Vreeswijk barely escaped. van Vreeswijk retaliated with a snide kick at the Grilled defender a bit later, and followed Zulkiflee into the referee's book.
The Birds then enjoyed a rare friendly goal, as Swede veteran
Ulf Hjortlind rose from amidst a teeming mass of bodies in the opposition box, after some good holding-up play by Chuancheng. The buiter goalkeeper was convinced that it came off Hjortlind's arm, but the referee wasn't too interested.
Heinrichsen then got another, after a showy dribble that got him past Huihong like he wasn't there, and burly American midfielder Gaston Causey chipped in with their seventh goal, after a sudden burst of power that left the Grilled centrebacks unable to contain him.
The Grilled fans who remained at The Cooking Pot got something to cheer about in the 82nd minute, with former youth talent
Phua Siong An notching his first goal at the senior level, a solid header from point-blank range.
