For The Horde
Merciless Pillaging
The Birds would suffer in their Grop C opener in the exclusive sixteen-team Intercontinental Cup tourney, as they were beaten 1-5 by reigning Kyrgyzstani Jogorku Liga champions FC Olgoi Khorkhoi, who had also picked up the Ruby Challenger Cup after last season's double-winning feat. That they spanked the Birds with such a glittering resume was then perhaps only to be expected, if with Grilled disheartened after conceding late in the first half.
FC Olgoi Khorkhoi's success had been built on the twin pillars of mobility and solidity in midfield, best exemplified by their central midfield trio of Chynybek Jooshbayev, Taabaldy Kapar Uulu and Bakas Manas Uulu, who had come up through the youth ranks - and then the national setup - together. To this core of companions, French boss Jean-Charles Lamy had grafted a formidable supporting cast, and it was this 3-5-2 setup that had swept all comers before them in Kyrgyzstan.
Even this would not intimidate Grilled Birds, early on at least, as they matched Khorkhoi stride for stride over the first set of skirmishes.
Mohd Marzuki Khairul was especially eager to prove himself at left forward, and a bold feint and charge against Osman Eceşan brought him the go-ahead goal in the 27th minute. Chinese fullback Wen Fanghai supplied Indian striker Sushil Nayak within two minutes as Khorkhoi rushed for revenge, and came mightily close too.
It might have been quite different had Marzuki kept his shot down after being presented with a free look about eight yards out in the 34th minute, but he didn't, and the door was left open for the Kyrgyzstanis to attack. Jooshbayev flaunted the raw pace that had seen him win fifteen senior caps thus far, as he first assisted Alejandro Soltero for the leveller, before embarrassing
Genki Nagano to do it all over again for Tommy Hobberstad, all within four electrifying minutes.
Grilled had fight in them yet, and
Ananda Hettiarachchi tried to get his new team back on equal terms with a graceful Crossfield dribble about the 43rd minute, but he simply wasn't able to find an open man despite besting several defenders on his own. It then all went to pieces despite Muhammet Singin getting booked for a late trip on
Lim An Keng, as Alejandro Soltero's big clearance went straight back to the German right winger.
Genki Nagano would again leave much to be desired with his recovery speed, which had the Kyrgyzstanis 3-1 up.
Chia Kwang Tse entered for
Aw Keng Chuan in the 65th minute with the Birds getting nowhere fast on the offensive, and while
Tian Yonghang was hardly incorrect in that assessment, the substitution possibly only made things worse on the defensive end. Two minutes later, it was Chynybek Jooshbayev's turn to score for himself, as Czech Number Nine Tibor Frőhlich drew reluctant defender
Phillip Nagata aside, before putting Jooshbayev through with a silky-smooth dragback.
There was no question of the Birds turning the match around now, with Khorkhoi proving next to unassailable in defence, and they would have one more goal up their considerable sleeves. It had been a stressful day for Nagata as a makeshift centreback, and a brief loss of concentration in the 80th minute had Bakas Manas Uulu bump him off the ball and score.
