Wolf Pack
Everywhere But Goal
The Birds struggled mightily with Swedish Division Eight Dina FC, affectionately known as the Wolves by their supporters. Clad in all black with green socks, they obligingly arranged themselves in a 5-4-1 formation. Hjortlind, still weak after his prolonged injury, was back for Grilled, and precarious sensation
Quah Han Kok debuted between Spirig and Barbour in a raw centre line.
Dina FC were charged after their six-nil stomping of league opponents Manchester United FF last Sunday, and the hat-trick champion of that win, tall Valentins Fabians, riveted the stadium with a phenomenal leap to bomb down a steep header. Bao-Tam was looking for the high skimmer and went down too late.
Grilled's teenagers ran their hearts out, and
Antonio Fernández Riviera embarked on a twenty-meter dash that Pettersson barely broke up by kicking out for a corner.
Ulf Hjortlind showed his pleasure at returning to his native Småland, playfully juggling a sudden jab by Barbour before powering it into the top part of Dina FC's goal.
Tim Hobson sensed blood and pounced on a loose pass a minute before half-time, pulling wide of covering stopper Mikael Klangstrand before stroking into the net.
Hobson could even have made a hat-trick before the whistle went in a thouroughly mad 45th minute, as he sprinted on a long ball as the Dina FC defenders waited for an offside call. It never came, and Hobson gleefully rammed his finish over Klangstrand only for it to clear the bar. He had another go when Klangstrand's goal kick was intercepted and returned straight to him, and this time he had the ball headed for goal when Spanish defender Natanael Ugalde stopped it on the line.
Dina FC retreated in the second half, withering under the rejuvenated Grilled strikeforce. Eager to impress his countrymen, Hjortlind drove a bullet-like attempt when a cross looked more intelligent, but was close enough as it reached the wrong side of the post. Riviera, eminently no striker, beat the last man near the hour mark but had no idea what to do next.
Two quick bookings followed for Grilled's men, as
Ulf Hjortlind floored Canadian centerback Arlindo Esmeriz unfairly in full view of the man in black.
Dani Spirig used a perfect Cryuff turn to sidestep his marker, and was pushing the ball up when a defender caught both him and the ball in one sweeping motion. Spirig was incensed and harassed the referee about the incident, guaranteeing himself a yellow card.
Israeli winger
Earl Barbour fell over himself late in the game, and wound up clutching his back and foot until medical aid came.
Dani Spirig might have earned something for himself in the 88th minute when he was the point man for an ambitious long pass from Seng-Huat, only to totally miskick and send the ball at the corner flag.
