Not Boaring
Long Game
First friendly this season was in Byelarus, deep in Eastern Europe, against high-flying Vyshejshaja Liga side FC Boars. Minsk was cloudy but the skies cleared somewhat before the game. Boars played their customary 5-4-1 with Romanian striker Sorin Morar up front.
Grilled in the meantime sent out a true second team, unlike the mixed ones that had sustained them for much of the season. Bao-Tam won his place back in goal, while Hjortlind and Hobson renewed their old partnership. They were to find it hard going against the massed Boars defence, of course.
Player-coach
Luis Alcántara had put on a few pounds after an extended stint out of competitive play, and was sluggish against Boars' Italian winger Mario Latella. The goal came from a delightful cross header from Morar after Latella planted a deep centered ball beyond the far post. Bao-Tam could only watch as the return bounced into the opposite side of goal.
Their mission accomplished, it didn't seem as if Grilled could get anything back, but Han Kok underscored his boundless potential when he crafted an opportunity from midfield. Dummying for Jie Siong, he flicked on the pass back and used his strikers as a distraction. Hobson rushed his shot, but the badly scuffed effort went to Tuan-Mu who clipped it five metres into the net.
There was a moment of madness after 32 minutes, as Borup got into a shouting match with Boars' Heimo Wappler, whom had brought him down messily. Before the other players could herd them off, Borup made as if to butt Wappler. There was little contact, but the intent was clear and Borup had to go.
Even with ten men, Grilled had the better chances in the second half as Boars sat very deep. Liehner left two men behind as he drew on his inner reserves for a surge upfield, but his glorious cannonball from outside the penalty area was well parried by Condezo. Hjortlind mishit a loose ball in the six-yard box, then Hobson sent his 82nd minute free-kick straight into the five-man Boars wall.
Following the pre-match agreement, the game went into extra time much to the delight of the 5000-odd onlookers, who got their money's worth of soccer. It went at a clearly slower pace as both sets of players ran low on stamina, and the only chance created, a volley from Boars' Chris O'Connell, bent wide of Bao-Tam's goal.
To settle the friendly, spot kicks were held. Goalscorer Morar started off with a hard strike down the middle, gamely blocked by Bao-Tam. Two more saves from Hobson and Schreurs followed, before Hjortlind sent Condezo the wrong way. In the end, only Alcántara managed to put another one into the net, and immediately after signalled for a well-deserved rest.
