Devils Painted Red
Strikers Soar
Grilled punished Nigerian Division Three guests red&black_devils 7-0 in the first leg of the home-and-away friendly series between the clubs, as the Birds' forwards found themselves putting everything away despite starting in midfield. The Lagos-based visitors were willing enough competitors, but were simply overwhelmed in the middle of the park.
Having dropped points in the league for consecutive weeks, Grilled needed a comprehensive showing to regain their edge, and they found one today.
Clément Meyer was passed fit to start in midfield, where he had to accommodate
Mohd Safri bin Mohd Kassim's continued rustiness. Fortunately, devils were not exactly at their sharpest either, and didn't manage to capitalize on several early mistakes from him.
Emboldened by these early escapes, Mohd Safri grew into the game, and in the 21st minute teased with a glimse of his former self, when he audaciously sent the ball to
Chow Ying Lee without as much as a sideway glance. Chow for his part was prepared, and instantly chipped it up and over Chilean goalkeeper Salvador Zegarra, who had set his feet.
The less-celebrated side of Chow's game then came to the fore, as he went in hard on Don Inneh, sending the midfielder out of the game. Veteran Paul Ayodele was an adequate replacement who announced his arrival with some neat footwork, but he was soon eclipsed by the rather sprightlier
Tian Yonghang, who began to pick devils' backline apart methodically.
Mohd Safri was the main beneficiary, and the off-colour Grilled man suggested that he might well be recovering his form, as he proceeded to plunder two in four minutes. Both came via bold direct dribbles at Chris Mobutu Nzanga, who each time attempted to head the determined Mohd Safri off course, only to fail.
Chow Ying Lee completed his own brace right before half-time, as
Leong Wan Kang drifted wide left to open it up for him. devils skipper Mark Okeke had a long word with referee Hendrick Buskermolen, apparently about the injury to Inneh, as they walked off, but it was unclear whether Buskermolen appreciated the feedback.
He was certainly on top of matters in the 51st minute, when the very active Leong was tripped up just outside the devils penalty area.
Che Harun bin Sabtu decided to try for the top corner, and found it to the delight of the fans behind the goal.
The star of the second half was however
Tian Yonghang, who would have claimed a hat-trick, and perhaps more, had Zegarra not come up with a magnificent save in the 62nd minute. Tian however still found the net in the 61st and 77th as the visiting defence slowed, which completed the day's labours for the Birds.
