Cr4zY 0 - 5 Grilled Birds
Normality Restored
Tang Teases
The Birds put Sunday's disappointment behind them with an energetic 5-0 win at Cr4zY Arena, with their U-20 midfield and strikeforce well up to expectations.
Qassem Madaini gave them the springboard to venture without fear as he was rock-steady in defence, assisted by acting captain
Niculae Stanca, who directed ably when called upon.
The veterans had little to do in all honesty, as the home team were hemmed in by tireless running from the Grilled youth.
Mayur Gudivada looked fully recovered from his early-season mishap as he ran full-pelt onto a 50-50 ball in front of the opposition goal after just five minutes, but smashed it straight against a defender's leg.
The travelling fans feared a repeat of his injury when 41 year-old salesman Zairo Anuar bin Ashaari, unable to keep up with the slick passing, went for a warning tackle on
Neo Da Teck in the 13th minute, narrowly missing the winger's foot. Referee Gu Dekong was ready to pull out the red, but thought better and settled for a booking and a stern telling-to.
Tang Hengcai, who took half-an-hour to really get going in his last Cup match, experienced the same thing this time as he went from continously tripping up to jigging the opener past Mai Xian Wei in the 36th minute. He didn't forget to thank Adabala for the assist, and promptly got a second as the home team spaced out after winning a free-kick from
Hung Wee Li, letting
Li Boon Boon pick off a square pass across an empty defence.
Next to up his game was
Wardi Azhari, who came out at full throttle for the second half, and forced Mai into a quality save six minutes in. While he might have done better to pass then, Tang wasn't too upset. Cr4zY had their moments, such as when Yusman bin Mamud cheekily nutmegged Li and delighted the crowd as he dribbled his way out of danger, but it was Wardi who made a lasting impression by classily pushing the ball around Mai to bag Grilled's third.
That 75th minute goal laid to rest any final hopes Cr4zY had of getting back into it, and Grilled took the opportunity to pile on a couple more as their defence loosened.
Teo Yong Yau gave no quarter after a blind pass bounced right in front of him just as he returned from an offside position, and
Niculae Stanca lanced a fifth in before being replaced by
Yvan Lefébure, with
Walter Ross and an especially warmly-received
Erik Back also making cameos.
