Farm Four
Tian Yonghang would finally rise from the bench to have an extended chat with Sianzyunge after the match ended, while greeting his bedraggled returning players. "Lusaka had our number today, there's no denying that." the Grilled boss said. "Mbangweta, Chungu, Mawathe, Palácios... they had too many guys on top of their game today. It happens, and it hurts slightly less that we got crushed by an on-song team."
"It was a performance worthy of Skylla United themselves." Tian added, referencing the recent Dutch Eredivisie champions, who are also the parent club of Skylla Lusaka City. "Whatever tips their management are sharing, it's working."
If it was any consolation, neither of the other Singapore II.2 representatives had any better luck, though newbies are newbies ran former Zambian Cup holders Veloziraptor a lot closer in a 2-3 loss, that required Edgar Mphepo to conjure up a late winner - and Wan Wadi Syarif to hit the bar in response. Joker 9 actually had Tay Fu Yew give them a two-goal lead against league leaders Turtles on Safari, who however clawed four back under the lead of former Comoros youth international Richard Richart.
Farmer Bunnies outdid the Birds for once, but remain yet to record their first victory in the tournament, as they dragged out a goalless draw against two-time Paraguay Challenger Cup winners FFIV. Their 65th minute counterattack on a great
Gilberto Sorondo clearance was the best chance that either club had by far, but
Amirul Jufri Khairil's finish came off FFIV's crossbar, with Romanian goalie Gergő Czepó nowhere near.
The local II.4 had beaten Paraguay's II.1 by then, as frunzelite's Sławomir Podgórni scored a double towards a 3-0 sweep of four-time Copa Zafiro specialists Club Guarani FC. Featureship FC cut it closer against the crimson and navy of Omeprazol FC, but they held on after Juho Mietala's 81st minute breakthrough, to win off Benjamin Lim and Jacinto Varela's successive first-half strikes.
