Smudged At Smedge
Tian Escapes Sanction
Grilled went down 3-1 to Division Two leaders FC Smedge in only their second sojourn to Merrie England, some twenty-eight seasons after their first visit had similarly ended in defeat, to Lack Of Athletic FC. A matchup with a Pakistani side had to be called off due to miscommunication, which the Grilled players regretted dearly as they stood in the quintessentially English rainstorm at The Tromp Arena.
Neo Da Teck missed the flight out due to paperwork, so Grilled stayed with Stanca and Mourão in midfield, while giving their much-ignored defenders a overdue exercise. They needed that too, seeing as to how
Walter Ross nearly tied his own feet up in making his way over to cover Benjamin Stanley, though in his defense he had stepped in a particular deep puddle, and the English midfielder ended up nodding it wide.
The Birds were hopelessly flightless on the miserable bog that the pitch was fast turning into, but it at least prevented the hosts from utilizing their better distribution effectively, with the ball often sticking in unexpected spots.
Tian Yonghang appeared not to have heeded his recent warning against reckless challenges as he slid full-on at a defender, luckily missing, but was still rightly booked for intent.
Edvaldo Mourão's opener came entirely against the run of play as Grilled capitalised fully on their only corner kick of the half.
Qassem Madaini did well to send it in the general direction of the six-yard box under such conditions, and Joe Perry botched what would have been an unmissable take in better weather, leaving a surprised Mourão to lean forward and touch the ball into an unguarded net.
FC Smedge soon got back on level terms, as Italian fullback Oddone Tarroni, who cost S$6.7 million from TOROS SEMENTALES ESPAÑOLES, gave a flashback to his prime as he wriggled past the attentions of a straining Ross and discomfited Vukota. Looking up, he saw a couple of options, but instead splashed the ball successfully into a small gap at the near post.
Qassem Madaini and
Li Boon Boon were probably not too unhappy to relinquish their places in the swimming pool for the second half, giving
Wardi Azhari the honour of perhaps the wettest debut in Grilled history, as he entered the fray with
Björn Olsson. Both were soaking wet by the time they jumped in a failed effort to block Stanley's direct free-kick three minutes later, which again missed narrowly.
Olsson's age and poor selection of boots showed in the 71st minute as he flopped about trying to keep up with Chilean wide forward Martin Macchiavello, and it was the end soon after as Stanley finally got the goal he so richly deserved. FC Smedge then used up all their substitutions late on, a gesture appreciated by the contestants still on the pitch.
