Halfbaked Stars
Tan Ong Saint And Sinner
Tom Pence was issued a ticket back to his home country, but STLFANS were tough hosts and just too strong for Grilled over ninety minutes. Their goalie Willie Hayes made a boo-boo by throwing the ball to Chiew-Yen in the first minute, but the striker underestimated the time he had and screwed his shot.
Tan Ong got his card earlier than usual when a light hold on Krueger was penalised with a straight yellow. Fortier bested the defence again, with reintroduced defender
Ding Sun-Nee a little unfit. Fortier placed his effort far too well for Balenciaga to save.
Tan Ong then chipped in with an immaculate finish to breach STLFANS for once. Tellskär and Sole passed four defenders between them, but Tan was left with much to do as Wilson stood between him and Hayes guarding the net. Tan surprised all with a first-time whack that swerved away from Hayes, evening the game out.
Tim Hobson followed his example by not venturing near STLFANS' overbearing defence, going head to head with Hayes instead from way outside the penalty box. The shot appeared headed for the stands but bent down to end as a wonder goal.
Some support could be heard for Grilled from the terraces, and STLFANS redoubled their workrate. Midfielder Lesley Main struck down the notion that his team were all brawn as he stroked a delicate dead ball right over Balenciaga. David Wilson got a yellow card after the equaliser as he tangled with Magunsson while retrieving the ball.
STLFANS stamped their authority on the game after the restart, as Krueger threw himself forward to swipe a floating ball from the centre past Balenciaga.
Xing Hua was the next one cautioned for dirty play, and Fortier grabbed his second goal with a gem of a header off Joshua Castle's hurried cross as he was hassled by Sun-Nee.
Tan Ong earned the derision of the fans as he deployed spiteful little kicks at the opponents' strikers, and was shouted off the pitch when the referee found out and gave him a second yellow.
It was all STLFANs' game after that, as Balenciaga was thouroughly tested by Krueger's bullish rampage and a wayward free-kick from Fortier.
