Specialists Soar
There will be memories to spare if Grilled do make it to the finals of the Sapphire Challenger Cup, as their opponent will be one of The Void Deck and Kang Xi Lai Le; The Void Deck had, of course, faced Grilled in the Ruby Challenger Cup final, as well as eight times in Division Two. As for Kang Xi Lai Le, Grilled have lifted the trophy both previous times that they have met them in a cup competition.
Before that, though, the Birds will have to take on Edbe FC, whom they have somehow managed only to meet twice, despite the clubs' long histories. Their last clash, two seasons ago in the Singapore Masters, ended with Edbe FC prevailing 2-1, and Edbe's complete 5-0 demolition of plucky Enoshima High FC should be testament that Grilled should not be thinking too far ahead just yet.
With Kang Xi Lai Le playing a near-flawless counterattacking game against akodo's possession game, and The Void Deck likewise picking off East Coast Warriors' challenge despite losing the midfield battle,
Tian Yonghang foresaw an intriguing semifinal between the two. "I'm not even sure they will want to hold on to the ball for too long!"
The main cup final will be an all S-League affair, as Pudgy Penguins narrowly saw off Villains F.C.'s belated charge, with singnet_utd likewise pulling out all the stops to deny the ambitious Charis FC. Bookmakers have installed singnet_utd as very slight favourites to finally lift their first major piece of silverware, but as Grilled have just found to their detriment, the Penguins have never been easy to get the better of.
Farmer Bunnies again returned winless from their midweek friendly, as Austrian Division Five Dynamo Korlschocht FC nicked a tight encounter, 2-1.
Edward Ong was alert to notch the equaliser from a well-practised free-kick routine, but the hosts responded with one of their own in due time.
Gagan Shettar and
Nashrullah Alim made the Bunnies' injury list in the aftermath.
