Su Liang's Pain
The Grilled players could hardly bear to remain on the pitch after their defeat was confirmed by and large, with
Chu Xin Lee and
Teo Chuan Yong among the few who stopped to converse with their Warriors' counterparts. "It's a bitter pill to swallow, but that's football." Teo managed. "We can blame the weather or the pitch, but take nothing from the Warriors - they defended in strength, and when you have Italy's national goalie between the sticks... well, it was always going to be tough."
Warriors will not face Haha in their bid for a first major national trophy, with Club Dinosauria facing off against former winners Random Curiosity FC in the other semi-finals. At this point, all Chu could hope for was that it might be a distraction for the S-League teams. "Warriors and Deinos have to be heavy underdogs, but if they can take their chances again, they have a fighting shot."
Today would also mark the exit of the other Grilled clubs from cup competition, with Farmer Bunnies going out to Sarcastic Fringeheads, but not before literally taking them all the way, and beyond. Few, least of all
Dalibor Kostadinović, expected the Buns to have a realistic chance, but the good third minute counterattacking opportunity that transpired for
Vitaliy Efendiev gave some early hope. Bogdan Bărbulescu would open for Fringeheads a bit later, though, steering the match solidly back within expectations.
The Buns were really not overly uncomfortable as the game dragged on, and an incredible save by
Gilberto Sorondo off Heine Andreassen's free-kick in the 18th minute besides, the former El Salvador youth international keeper was rarely threatened. It was not like Farmer Bunnies were making much of the ball themselves, and they appeared headed for a respectable 0-1 loss, when
Nguyễn Văn Chương took Kasimir Wanger on with four minutes left.
Lim Su Liang came up in support of Nguyễn's frighteningly-direct run, and was on hand to finish it up with Lillebror Bengtsson grounded.
That had Fringeheads having to get serious with first-choice keeper Artur Rosa Gomes Oliveira coming on in goal, and substitute Angelo Longari resorting to a blatant dive, which could have resulting in nothing other than a card.
Wong Ting Yew would come on for Nguyễn right before extra time, and it was arguably the Buns who had the better of that. Unfortunately, both
Vitaliy Efendiev and
Xue Kangfang missed after getting into great positions, which left this Sapphire Challenger Cup game to be decided on penalties.
Well, both teams turned out to have been training hard for this, and for all of Oliveira's and Sorondo's undoubted shot-stopping pedigree, neither would be able to stop any of the first eight takes they faced, though they did score themselves when called upon. The balance finally went when
Lim Su Liang stepped up as Farmer Bunnies' ninth taker, only to have the direction guessed correctly by Oliveira. Bărbulescu then stepped up, to end it as it had begun.
The 23 year-old Lim could not be consoled afterwards, even as Kostadinović said what must have been on everyone's mind. "Without his equalizer, we would never have gone to penalties anyway. It was mostly a lottery by then, and we didn't win it. But against Fringeheads, I think it was a more than good result!"
As for Grilled International, their end had come against Cuba's InternaLaziale, as the H.I. IV.8 challengers came out on top 4-3 in a rollercoaster of a match. Yann Colas pulled out a brace after
Li Xin Chi had converted a sitter in the 12th minute, to which
Wang Hanxuan responded with one of his own. Angelo Di Piero had it three-all with a wonderful lob, however, and after big saves by Konstantinos Kampitakis off
Wang Chu Chi and Li, Fabian Soćko would win it on the counter.
International might take some small comfort in their youth team's 7-4 victory in New Jersey against Pavise Juniors, that despite the day being stolen wholesale by the Juniors' 15 year-old Tyler Hassler. The barrel-chested youngster looked nothing like his age as he bullied his way to all four of his side's goals, and Busy Bees skipper Abu Bakar bin Harmi had to give it to his opponent. "If ever you wanted to imagine what a young Rooney must have been like, well, that was it!"
