Caught By Feds
Stigén-Stung
Grilled are seemingly unable to buy a goal at the moment, having gone empty-handed for four of their five latest games, as they returned without a prize from their second visit to Brazil. Rio de Janeiro Division Five club Federais dominated midfield handily as their well-tuned side kept things tight throughout, and their technical ability affected Grilled's ability to win the ball back.
The first attempt at Quebra-Coco Arena Stadium saw the only goal, as Swedish defender Edvard Stigén dealt the final blow after homegrown winger Leandro de Paiva got his cross past
Walter Ross on the left side. The Birds saw their time come after Vítor Luís Neiva gave away a free-kick near the half-way line in the 35th minute, and
Li Boon Boon took it quickly, forcing Gamboa to head it behind under pressure from Safrinho.
The resulting corner kick was fielded well by
Neo Da Teck towards
Mayur Gudivada, as
Tang Hengcai successfully made a nuisance of himself to goalkeeper Eize Meijdam. Gudivada reacted quickly enough to stab the wildly spinning ball in the direction of goal, but Stigén was standing on the line and managed to boot it away.
Federais signalled that they would settle for the goal as they withdrew lone Czech targetman Zdeněk Míka for another midfielder in Leonida Pântea at the beginning of the second half, and Grilled's trainees were made to run all over the place for little reward as the home team happily passed between themselves.
A double defensive substitution of
Lin Jungui and
Walter Ross for
Qassem Madaini and
Vukota Crkvenjakov was made in the 75th minute as
Han Lik-Tsun was content to have the youngsters treat the game as a learning opportunity. It was all too much for winger
Teo Yong Yau, however, who couldn't resist taking a mean-spirited swipe at an opposition player late in the match, for which he was immediately booked.
The final swop in a slightly disappointing exhibition was
Tang Hengcai for the want-away
Fan Xiuyu with two minutes remaining, though there was still time for Leonida Pântea to collect a card of his own as he welcomed Fan with a dangerous sliding challenge.
