Shield Burn
A Gap Remains
Grilled's Singapore Community Shield clash against S-League winners Blackburn Rovers Fan ended with a 3-5 loss, but incoming head coach
Djan Bacelar was positive about the spirit on display, particularly as it was achieved without talisman
Mohd Safri bin Mohd Kassim.
In Mohd Safri's place was the returning veteran
Che Harun bin Sabtu, who had the Grilled fans on their feet on his entrance. The new Number Nine had a long chat with
Chow Ying Lee as he stood over the ball for the kick-off, as the match officials took their time inspecting the pitch.
The opening minutes certainly boded well for the Birds, as they more than held their own against the national champions. A large part of Bacelar's strategy was to clog things up in the middle, to prevent Blackburn's international wing pairing of Poh Wai Ying and Chow De Choon from operating at maximum effectiveness, and this Grilled succeeded in with disciplined short passing in midfield.
The first shot on Blackburn's goal game after Chow was blocked off on a direct run towards goal, although
Wong Ping Shun ballooned that. More good work down the middle saw
Ling Fuquan apparently tugged back by Armin Weidle after making a surprise bolt forward, only for referee Ricci Faschet to shake his head.
That raised
Zhao Jing Wei's hackles, and he signalled his displeasure by pulling Svein Nordstrand back, if only to get Faschet's attention. Of course, a booking was the only outcome.
Che Harun bin Sabtu then nearly made this a fairytale return, as he intelligently drifted left to retrieve the ball, before sending in a floated cross that
Tian Yonghang attacked successfully. Che had been a little slow before that, but this move hinted that he still has much to contribute, if utilized correctly.
Blackburn had not been getting much of the ball this while, but when they did, they immediately cashed in. Poh was the outlet in the 33rd minute after the transfer-listed Guillermo Henao won it back in defence, and the winger, capped 39 times, took both
Wong Ping Shun and
Ling Fuquan out with a delightful turn. He then picked out the onrushing Aroldo Yáñez, who did justice to Poh's buildup with a pinpoint shot.
Although Grilled resumed monopolising possession after that, their attacks became less dangerous as Blackburn adapted, and openings became harder and harder to come by. They did make a breakthrough in the 57th minute, after Che Harun slyly went over following a slight bump.
Wong Ping Shun sent Armin Weidle the wrong way from the spot, to level at 1-1.
Blackburn were nothing if not resilient, though, and they demonstrated just how they were able to claim the title in the sizzling twelve minutes that followed. Grilled seemed to be penning them in nicely, when captain Florin-Adi Frunză nicked it off
Zhu Changchun and raced off. The Grilled defence was in shambles, and English striker Ray Erskine effortlessly played off
Gene Filippone's shoulder to score.
Grilled were still milling about aimless when Blackburn capitalized on their indecision a second time, as Poh again ripped unopposed down the left to feed Vladimir Lyulin. The Birds might have bought themselves some room when Zhu released
Zhao Jing Wei in the 72nd, but Zhao for once lost his cool, and thundered it into the clouds.
That was curtains for Grilled, as Chow De Choon then blazed past Ling to polish off a fourth, before Florin-Adi Frunză pounced on a tantalizing cross from the left size with an eye-catching finish, taking the score to 5-1 for Blackburn.
The Birds would belatedly rediscover their earlier imperiousness, as
Tian Yonghang controlled a pass down the right channel by
Wong Ping Shun excellently, before planting it beyond Weidle. Zhao then pulled out a stunner from
Abdul bin Jantan's mazy run to raise the spectre of an exciting last ten minutes, but Blackburn held firm to take their first Shield.
