No Easy Games Left
It was a satisfying victory for Grilled Birds, and one which magnitude surprised
Hovaness Noubaryan. "I thought we'd get through, but six goals? That's a bit much, honestly."
Noubaryan couldn't help but laud current Player of the Season
Chan Ze Han, who scored twice and collected the Man of the Match accolade for the sixth straight match. "He's a very, very special player, if you haven't realized - but of course you have. And only twenty-two years old! For my money, I wouldn't take anybody in his age group over him. There's guys like Sandy Footprints' Liu Chang Leong, and Joker 9's Tay Tong Leong, but Chan just brings so much to the table."
Sentosa-based II.4 leaders Dragon Devil's proved no match for the Farmer Bunnies either, and not even some incredible leadership from Chong Puay Jun could prevent a 0-2 loss, the Buns' seventh competitive game without even conceding. This might change soon, though, with a rematch against former national champions Arrogancae up next.
The Bunnies had famously taken Arrogancae to penalties just three seasons ago in the Sapphire Challenger Cup; Arrogancae went on to narrowly lose in the finals to Haha, but given how they are currently leading the S-League as the only club to collect a full nine points from their first three games, they might be the worst opponents available in Singapore.
Tham Leng Teck agreed that Arrogancae had no real vulnerabilities, after reviewing their commanding 4-1 cup win over Ruby Challenger Cup holders ~Pollen~. "They're a unit far more than the sum of our parts. However, as the coaches have often said, it's up to others to score against us - and if they don't, we can't lose!"
The Birds' own opponents, Mia San Toa Payoh, have had a widely divergent fate in the top flight in contrast, and are bottom of the table without a point. However, Grilled know well how difficult Mia San can be, having managed their first win against them just last season, after four losses.
For Grilled International, it was another morale-boosting big win in the H.I. Emerald Challenger Cup, their sixth competitive victory in succession. Japan's Zao Snow Monsters fielded their trainees, and lost 1-7 with Si-Yun Baek finding a consolation goal. Like
Chan Ze Han,
Wang Hanxuan was absolutely unplayable, and he racked up his third hat-trick in five games to unavoidable comparisons.
International gaffer
Roar Olaisen wasn't shy about his own opinions. "Chan, eh? Heard only good things about him, but I wouldn't swop him for Wang here. They aren't directly comparable anyway."
