Partizans Put Down
Tian's Triumphant Return
Division Four frontrunners FK Partizan Singapore's impressive perfect record for the season finally crumbled against the Birds, who were imposing throughout despite playing away in the rain.
Tian Yonghang, a late inclusion after missing almost all of Sunday's match through injury, made sure of progress.
The Partizans, who have topped Division Four each time they have played at that level, and won several tournaments besides, have however not yet passed the fifth round of the Cup, their previous best ending in a 0-4 defeat to another II.2 side, CharlesCheesePie.
However, they have improved greatly since that loss three seasons ago by all accounts, with homegrown teenage forwards Chiman Goradia and Wong Nie Yong both near the top of their age groups nationally. In midfield, veterans Cecilio González Sepúlveda and Salvatore Stévenin have provided a stable platform from which to launch attacks, a setup for which their league opponents have thus far found no answer to.
Though Grilled were not quite their usual foes, the Partizans displayed no fear in the opening minutes, and their black-and-white stripes went forward from kick-off in search of first blood.
Ling Fuquan, in an unorthodox role of defensive left winger, had to switch flanks to help put a stop to Jožef Turkovič's overlapping runs.
The hosts deservedly had the first serious attempt, which came after seven minutes. Grilled were unsure of themselves in the face of this unexpected pressure, and 17 year-old Chilean support striker Alfredo Folcras nearly made himself a hero as he zipped in to launch a drifting strike.
Dexter Stacey was rooted, and could only watch as the ball thankfully ended up just a yard wide.
Grilled began to find their feet, and got the breakthrough in the 20th minute.
Mohd Safri bin Mohd Kassim weaved this way and that to tie up a couple of defenders, before dealing the ball to Tian. Tian immediately played it back inside for
Ling Fuquan, who had made another of his impetuous charges, and the former wunderkind did not disappoint with a grounder past Pjotr Juvenal.
Partizans kept up with their attacking game, but while they strung together a number of smooth combinations, the Birds never looked really challenged other than when Nevzat Neşide squeezed in an awkward overhead effort that was comfortably claimed by Stacey.
They then came undone due to a rare lapse in the 38th minute, with nobody picking up the again clockwork-like
lu Zunwen as he probed at the home defence with a short run. Tian again was in the thick of things and lifted the ball right into lu's projected path, leaving the midfielder little more to do than chase and bang it in.
That did wonders for Grilled's confidence, and
Niculae Stanca was happy enough to make a couple of changes at half-time. Out went
Zhu Changchun, to be replaced by
Teo Yong Yau. Teo then began on the left side, as
Ling Fuquan went back to his more accustomed defensive central midfield post.
Partizans' spirit was not dampened, however, and they again came out firing knowing that time was not on their side. Janne Jaroma could have put Wong through in the 51st minute but slipped to the dismay of the home fans, who were again up in arms when lu went right through Goradia minutes later, but escaped what seemed to be a certain red.
They were placated soon enough as Partizans made the most of the resulting free-kick, sending it long to the corner flag, where it was headed back into a promising position. Salvatore Stévenin considered his many options, before prepping for his own shot, which while expected by Stacey was still so powerful that the goalkeeper never got close.
A comeback appeared on the cards as the hosts somehow found the reserves to up the pace, but Grilled poured cold water on those hopes shortly.
Pompeo Bellamoli missed a golden opportunity from a corner, being taken by surprise when lu managed to tip the ball to him despite being surrounded, but the clearance was sent right back, and Tian was on target this time.
Partizans never quite threatened after that setback, and Grilled played out the remainder of the game straightforwardly enough,
Alex Fonseca being the second and last substitute, for the magnificent lu.
