Beaten By Angels
Horrendous Han
A week after the feisty re-introduction to Division Two against Rajah XI, Grilled entered their first home game in II.4 with what looked to be unbridled confidence for their derby against Beat of Angel.
That attitude appeared to be completely justified as the Birds bagged a goal on their first attack of the game, a sweeping move that saw Han Kok skip a couple of tackles, and Rotteveel duck Czwakiel's awkward last-ditch block.
Having already broken into double digits for the season, the Dutch hotshot had to reason to be shy when facing Israeli goalie Tzvika Sapir, and became the first to breach the visitors' goal in the league this season.
Things looked to be going swimmingly for Grilled as they strapped themselves in the driving seat for the first twenty minutes, with Branbilla's often understated defensive work coming to the fore - the Swiss midfielder got in several good interceptions, but his challenge with studs showing in the sixteenth minute well deserved the booking it got.
Grilled, as they did against Rajah, couldn't keep the tempo going, and the Angels soon regained the initiative. Han Kok would probably have halted Tan Ying Eng in his tracks had he been five years younger, but instead let the 24 year-old proceed undeterred, and Tan thanked Quah for his generosity by wriggling by
Han Lik-Tsun to score.
If Han appeared unduly sluggish then, it got far worse for him twelve minutes later, as a run-of-the-mill cross was drifted in by the nippy Gregorio Arenile of Italy. To the home support's horror, the Grilled captain completely miscued his clearance, and his opposite number Zenón Freituxe took full advantage.
Heads dropped at that goal, with goalie Valdir nearly grabbing his leader before thinking better of it. On hindsight, he perhaps should have, as Han didn't improve for the second half. It wasn't all his fault, with Árva likewise having a torrid time against the slippery Arenile, who should really have made it three had Talib not put himself on the line.
The trust between the members of Grilled's backline appeared to be sorely tested, with Talib the only one to emerge with any credibility. Fortunately, a caution for Arenile for clattering Chuancheng doused his fire somewhat, and MacKinnon nearly put the Birds back into it with a thunderbolt from the blue.
That was unfortunately but a brief respite, and Beat of Angel put the result beyond doubt with a 78th minute goal by prolific Indian forward Aghor Devi, who got just enough of a deflection on his spectacular volley to wrongfoot Valdir. Tan turned the screw in further when he burst past Han to deposit the fourth and final goal.
