Volta Shock
Albrecht Aces It
Grilled's eight-match unbeaten run came to a screeching halt against unheralded Volta Neda, formerly F.Torres FC, as they ran out 4-3 winners at their Voltarium Stadium. It goes without saying that bumbling Chilean goalkeeper
Alvaro Silvera wasn't the most popular of players around Jurong, after his mistakes cost the Birds dearly.
With Valdir still wrapped in cotton wool, Grilled decided to field both Vukota and Behr, despite them having started the league game on Sunday. Talib was omitted only due to his red card, while all three first-team midfielders were also out in force.
On paper, Grilled had the measure of an unspectacular Volta side, but the hosts were fresh and well-supported. Grilled in contrast appeared heavy-legged, though Mohd Firdaus at left-back couldn't pin the blame on fatigue as he completely lost Mirko Kappeln, who sliced in a cross that Czech forward propelled past a less-than-ready Silvera.
In a sad contrast for the Grilled faithful, Volta's Peruvian keeper Edmundo Cayo played a blinder, as he completely transformed from the wallflower who conceded five against dwwong, to some sort of superman between the posts. Quah, who appeared to have lost another slice of fitness but none of his accuracy, was well on target in the 21st minute after a disguised pass by Safrinho, but Cayo sprang to touch it over.
Dorogan's bad luck with goalkeepers continued, after another knuckleheaded square pass nearly dug Grilled into a deeper pit. There was nothing more he could have done when he shook two defenders off his tail and aimed a withering drive right at the edge of the goalmouth in the 40th minute, but Cayo somehow flew over and rescued the situation.
With Grilled not looking especially confident, changes were in order, and
Han Lik-Tsun swapped Simões and Salieri for Bögengang and Torsson for the second half. Unfortunately, this coincided with Volta's midfield gaining dominance, and the Birds were soon staring at a two-goal deficit after big Italian lad Marcello Ronchi held Vukota off to power a header into the Grilled net as Silvera stood off ineffectually.
Now even more desperate, Grilled went Route One, and against all expectations proved successful on their first attempt. Torsson's energy allowed him to keep the ball after Bögengang managed to get a head onto Behr's hopeful punt, and Cayo was finally beaten with a simple grounder for Torsson's second Cup goal of the campaign.
This should have been the platform for Grilled's experience to prevail, but after a yellow for Volta goalscorer Valečka and a self-inflicted minor ankle injury for Mohd Firdaus, Volta made it 3-1 after 79 minutes as young Austrian Kevin Albrecht rushed in to nod home after a comical attempt at clearing the ball by Branbilla.
The Birds could however be proud of their response, as the oft-understated
Feng Darong never slackened off, and finally got his recognition when he reeled in a couple of Volta defenders and placed the ball into the middle for Bögengang to meet with a formidable diving header.
Grilled's supporters might have thought that it was their lucky day when
Quah Han Kok then stood up to take a rare free-kick, and bent in his 88th career goal off the post to equalise. Sadly, Volta's Albrecht would be the hero of the moment as he burnt a knackered Mohd Firdaus for pace two minutes later, securing progression for his club.
