Dodging DTP
Nine Hold On
Grilled's reserves lasted over an hour with just nine men against Trinidad & Tobago side DTP FC, who took the lead against Grilled's full team but ended up conceding when two men up, and eventually went down in the final shootout.
The Birds used the friendly as an opportunity to give their defenders, none of whom played any part on Sunday, a run-out, and Grilled's first seven all made an appearance, with Silvera and the three young forwards the only three non-defenders starting.
DTP FC went on the offensive from the beginning as they used the width of The Cooking Pot pitch, but found it exceedingly difficult to find any space when it mattered, and the impressive
Safri bin Mohamad nearly converted Grilled's first counterstrike into a goal after half an hour.
It then went pear-shaped for the hosts, as acting captain
Niculae Stanca mistimed a tackle on DTP midfielder Reinhart Enst, who may however have left the ground a little quickly. Swede defender
Björn Olsson was not amused, and got into a shoving match with Enst, only to be sent off in disgrace.
Stanca managed to keep his head around him, and the situation under control. He could do little from midfield when Finnish striker Antti Tyrjä split Grilled's central defence to supply an assist with his blistering acceleration, though, and even less yet after he was dismissed for a second yellow minutes later. Grilled could have gone further behind from Toader Petrescu's effort before that, but a revitalised Silvera saved that.
Handicapped and bereft of leadership, Grilled somehow pulled together, with
Tian Yonghang again taking over the armband. He did his part on Grilled's next counter, which eventually led to an equaliser thanks to Safrinho's quick thinking.
The Birds then defended with their lives, and survived close shaves from De Saedeleer, Tyrjä and Petrescu in extra time. Silvera then continued his run of good form by saving two penalties in the shootout, while the dependable Behr and Jungui converted theirs to deliver a hard-won victory.
