Bek Backed
At Back's Beck
The Birds made it nine friendly wins out of nine for the season as they dominated Uzbekistan Division Three club FC Oz ozbek, after travelling abroad for the first time in months. While not being much to boast about, it was a welcome change for the reserves, who had a losing record as short as two seasons ago, only two wins out of twelve the season before that, and just one win a season in the three seasons prior!
It was more a first team than a reserve one that flew across half the continent, as Grilled needed to keep their match fitness up during the season break, and both Stacey and Madaini made starts, with Grilled's full complement of U-20 forwards leading the line, days after their youth international career sadly came to a close.
Pujolràs, who had recently broken his long goal duck, nearly was at it again as he hammered the ball towards goal immediately after getting a look in. Young goalkeeper Alexandru Pătroiu had to throw himself to the ground to keep that out.
Grilled played a patient game as their midfield outclassed the hosts' handily, and
Erik Back reminded just how handy he is coming in from wide positions as he found a path between the five-man ozbek defence to get on the end of a Dorogan chip.
Alex Fonseca then got off the blocks with his maiden goal for Grilled, making it 2-0 with a cheeky lob.
The Birds should be in good stead for the coming campaign if their midfield maintains the standards shown in this match, with Pujolràs putting a sliderule penalty kick into the corner before half-time. Goalkeeper
Dexter Stacey, who maintained his clean sheet record, was seen hobbling after a hashed goal kick, but he jogged it off in short order.
The forwards in contrast were all over the place, and Safrinho was guilty of a couple of outrageous misses at the beginning of the second half. They would not have long to redeem themselves, as they were soon substituted wholesale for Bögengang, Yonghang and Xiuyu, who returns from injury.
Grilled continued pumping balls in, and Vukota's spectacular diving header was saved before
Tian Yonghang had the distinction of bagging the last goal of the season with a cracking effort.
