Opičí Go On
Miloš Power
Grilled were eliminated in the Round of 32 of the King of Football Cup by Czech challengers FK Opičí hory "B tým", who proved too much for the Birds despite their ongoing struggles in II.4 - from which they have been relegated after managing just one draw in twelve matches. This did not correspond to how they dominated most of the ninety minutes here, however, with their back three being more than capable against a poor Grilled attacking effort.
Miroslav Kovačka was Opičí's star turn at the top, though he would play more of a supporting role for this game. Hometown hero Cyril Pernický captained the team from central midfield, alongside academy buddies Jakub Kosmák and Drahoslav Vrabec, who coordinated with all the precision expected of decades-long comrades. Ondřej Vanc, once a S$21 million buy for two-time Danish Superligaen champions Packers FC, kept goal behind the dependable Evžen Schejbal.
Grilled were up for it on paper with the trio of
Hwang Teck Fu,
Chad Thach and
Chia Kwang Tse on the frontlines, but they would find little to work on with the Opičí midfield soon dictating terms. Grilled had to rely on
Radomil Marcol to ward Miroslav Kovačka's fourteenth minute strike aside after plenty of fine approach work, but there was no saving Miloš Nešetřil's looping header in the 23rd, after Kosmák's deep cross left most of the Birds backline out of position.
It didn't get better as the Czech side continued to exploit Grilled Birds' lack of width on the retreat, with Kovačka scuffing a shot off
Hein Thiha Pyae Ko 27 minutes in. Kosmák swung the corner to the near post this time, and there was veteran fullback Dan Bouzek to glance the header home for 2-0. Marcol was unimpressed by
Ananda Hettiarachchi's marking for that, but the two would come to terms before continuing.
The Birds couldn't seem to catch a break, with
Johann Schwietzer forced to eat a yellow card for a cynical takedown of Tibor Peterka in the 37th minute, but that would ironically lead to
Genki Nagano's reducer after the abortive free-kick released
Lim An Keng down the left. Opičí were however unfortunate not to extend their lead after a couple of close shaves, which had
Chad Thach booked too for trying to hold the game up.
Genki Nagano would be seen visibly trying to encourage his fellows at the beginning of the second half, but there was just something missing from Grilled's engine room; the players were all doing fairly well individually, especially for
Hisham Zubari, who looked like the best player when on the ball at times. The linking-up with the forwards was the issue, with Opičí somehow able to neutralize most of the Birds' forays.
Opičí got their third goal after a succession of failed through passes by Grilled, which had Drahoslav Vrabec spot journeyman Tomáš Lachout getting in behind about the 69th minute, leading to a great assist for Miloš Nešetřil. Vrabec would soon be off together with Dan Bouzek and Pavel Kuděj in a triple substitution, which had Lukáš Chupík, Pavel Drapák and Tibor Peterka enter in high spirits.
While the addition of fresh legs clearly benefitted Opičí's ability to control the tempo, Grilled would go on to create one of their best opportunities in the 77th minute, with
Hisham Zubari finally carrying the ball past Pernický with an explosive dribble.
Chad Thach was left in a one-on-one duel against Ondřej Vanc after a fine dummy by Chia, but the Opičí goalkeeper threw out his right leg for the block.
Nešetřil then went for his hat-trick seven minutes on after poor marking left him free just inside the Grilled box, but he sent his rising effort maybe a yard too high. The Czech side were not done yet despite Grilled having flagged by now, and they would add a fourth through Pavel Drapák's drive in added time, with Jakub Kosmák then drilling a final free-kick over with
Radomil Marcol watching.
