Project Cancelled
No Joy For Newbies
Debuts were handed to young forwards
Michele Salieri and
Zheng Lihai against Project Cfc in the third round of the Cup, but they didn't make the most of the opportunity, failing to register their first goals.
Instead, it was
Martin Torsson who boosted his stock with yet another goal from the left wing, as Grilled sought to get familiar with the 3-4-3 formation. The hosts were in no condition to capitalize on Grilled's early hesitancy, and were happy enough to protect their goal for the first twenty minutes.
That lull was broken by
Badrul Afzan bin Mustapa, who had waited more than a season to score his second competitive goal, after his league strike against Initial D. Covering the length of the pitch with his supporting run down the right, he latched onto a low cross by Torsson and slashed it just hard enough to get by Rugui in the Project Cfc goal.
Quah Han Kok then doubled the lead with a massive effort that one defender nearly sprained himself leaping away from, while Torsson displayed some of the selfish instincts that might yet do him good, as he elected to go for the near post with Rotteveel waiting in the middle. It was perfectly hit, however, giving Grilled a 3-0 advantage.
Hu Jianyong then obtained a brace either side of the half-time whistle, as he put what he thought was an undeserved yellow card behind him. There was then a surge of anticipation when Rotteveel generously teed the ball up for Zheng to have a goal, but the hardworking Taiwanese striker was overeager and couldn't keep his shot down.
What goes around, come around, and Zheng was only too pleased to release the ball for Feng when it was threaded through to him by Torsson.
Feng Darong showed no signs of discomfiture at being moved further downfield either, and kept calm to pass the ball by the stranded goalie into the net.
Just when it looked like Rotteveel's run had come to an end, the Dutch master displayed wonderful concentration to keep it going in the 71st minute. Many forwards might not have reacted at all to a momentary slip, but Rotteveel was onto it like a hound, and topped it with a delightful chip. He then made it ten Cup goals in the campaign so far, with a screaming free kick.
