Snakes Sprained
Second-Half Slam
The Birds sent wind of a 0-6 trampling of Division Three side FC Kampala Snake from Uganda, with the hosts never getting off the ground against the Grilled representatives. The defensive 5-3-2 they played probably contributed, as an overworked Kafil Kabanda was tasked with patrolling midfield all by himself. New Grilled signing
Niculae Stanca was anointed as captain, and made a steady if unexciting debut.
Even Grilled couldn't help but exploit the gaps that opened up, as Kampala's wingers showed little interest in helping to stem the tide, and only their five-strong defensive line kept the Birds at bay. Joachim Kowarsch took one for the team by pulling Safrinho down after the quicksilver Grilled forward had slipped by him in the 23rd minute, and for a time it looked as if they might survive, and perhaps even nick one.
It didn't last as Grilled were always coming closer, and
Lim Chuan Heng might well have had the opener if he kept his rocket down.
Björn Olsson then got himself booked for delaying a Kampala free-kick, but that turned out to be the breakthrough that Grilled needed. The ball was squared carelessly, and
Fan Xiuyu was sharp enough to burst through and sweep it past Czech goalie Bedřich Pergl.
FC Kampala Snake held on till half-time, but their resistance would crumble in the 52nd minute after Pergl was caught in two minds about a Han Kok free-kick that curled in. It was too late by the time that he decided to come out for it, and he could only watch as the ball dropped in off the post.
Grilled moved up a gear, and the hosts found themselves unable to cope.
Tian Yonghang was on hand to tap a low and hard Penati cross in, and
Edvaldo Mourão successfully tested the shaky Pergl with a devil-may-care strike from long range that the hapless keeper spilled into the net.
There was no question that Grilled would get a fifth after
Ciro Penati slashed right past his marker with ten minutes to go, and the entire Kampala defence was reduced to spectator status when Safrinho cheekily hit a volley on the turn, that threatened before clipping the crossbar. That was disappointing for the once-capped U-20 forward, who covered his face in partly-mock dismay.
There was time for one more from the Birds, as Olsson mopped up from a defensive mixup, before Chuan Heng risked the ire of the irritated home fans by timewasting rather unnecessarily. It all worked, though, as
Alvaro Silvera recorded a rare clean sheet.
