Two Fell Strokes
Chan Ze Han's first career hat-trick was greeted with excitement by the fans, who were getting a little concerned about his prolificacy. "He's always been playing at a very high level, like a mature veteran." longtime supporter Mohd Rahmi bin Zulkifal said. "But he just lacked that killer instinct, that hunger that takes him over the edge. Maybe that has finally changed."
Such a thing would definitely serve Chan well in the next round against Fafane Club, whose Swiss do-it-all Arne Winner has never been accused of not loving goals enough. He smashed four past Really McCoys concurrent with Grilled's win for his tenth hat-trick, achieved despite being utilized at times on the wing, and even at wingback!
Farmer Bunnies advanced too, in a largely drama-free contest against Bergen Strokers of the East Coast. Affiliated with Norway's Singapore Strokers, a collapse of their unified ownership group right before the season began has seen their future come into doubt. Nonetheless, veteran loyalist Chau Puay Ting kept the team going, and the Buns had to lean on
Ibrahim Zahran Al-Maashany's best performance for some months, to come out with a 2-0 win.
At the other end,
Brendan Leung's single-minded devotion to shutting down his man continued to draw praise, as he totally removed the Strokers' Lin Jie Su from contention. The poor Number Ten had to come off six minutes before time, having barely managed to face
Vivian Grubenmann's goal with the ball without having it promptly removed by Leung.
In the Hattrick International Emerald Challenger Cup, Grilled International demolished semi-pro Tanzanian club Mwanza United 8-0, with
Hardi bin Besar starting the rout with his maiden pro strike in the 18th minute.
Zaini bin Hj Kaling got a brace, and
Adam Killick did no wrong from a penalty, before immediately being replaced after that.
It might well have been more, but for
Fausto Perono trying to force his way through, rather than pass to teammates in far better positions.
Abdul Hamid bin Hj Ali Timbang found it hard to fault him on that, though. "We know Fausto, that's who he is - and that's what we truly need."
