Borg Assimiliate
Kahmann Scheer Destruction
The Birds' second invitational ended far less grandly for them than did the first, as four-time Russian national champions Vyborg's Lions swept them 7-2 after Grilled had raced to a two-goal lead - coincidentally a mirror image of Ropelearner FC's qualification loss against Pearl Divers.
It had not been the best of seasons for Vyborg's by their own high standards either, but they did pick up the Sapphire Challenger Cup. Though Andorran national winger Enrique Serrano would be left on the bench, they had two internationals in Kyrgyzstan's David Ionochkin and Saudi Arabia's Hakim Kaleel in defence, which naturally led to comparisms with former Grilled regulars Seytek Djekshenkulov and
Qassem Madaini from the commentators.
After what was probably his current first-choice team did the job against Breg,
Djan Bacelar was ready to do some tinkering, and played the next-generation midfield comprising
Ang Leong Kum,
Clark Won and
Hariharan Prabhu. The verdict ninety minutes later would be - long on effort, short on staying power - for the moment at least.
The contest did begin more promisingly than normal for Grilled, as the three relative youngsters took the fight to the Lions, who did however respond expertly by defending as a unit. The Birds gave the impression of being contained without actually giving up the ball, until
Low Aik Jia finally sprang their hitherto flawless offside trap in the 23rd.
Mohd Safri bin Mohd Kassim was on the same wavelength, and once again struck first against the Lions with a neat sidefooted closer.
It was looking better and better as Ang in particular began to boss the middle, and although Iulian Tănase did come through for the Lions following a fabulous reverse pass from Andrey Myachin,
Gene Filippone averted the danger that time. Eight minutes later, Low's pace proved unstoppable again, as he vaulted the last man before drilling in an excellent second past South African goalkeeper Phil Platts.
Grilled however committed the fatal mistake of loosening up after attaining a two-goal cushion, perhaps the most cardinal of all footballing sins.
Lee Lee Hao was noticeably sloppy in pulling the trigger despite being in the clear from a glorious
Wong Ping Shun cross, and the resulting full-fledged counter saw the Lions' new signing Jean-François Turschl bundle a reducer in.
Vyborg's then all but made up for their low-key half in three minutes, as they came upon the Birds in a whirlwind of action. Grilled barely knew what had hit them when Hakim Kaleel threaded the equaliser past
Wong Tian Han, and though Wong managed a fantastic save from German striker Carsten Kahmann, the ensuing free-kick saw Kahmann put it in anyway, after Ionochkin went the direct route.
Kahmann would not be stopped, and set Vyborg's on their way to start the second half. Russian veteran Artemiy Botkin finally came into his own after spending forty-five minutes in Low's shadow, and with Grilled's discipline waning, exploited their organizable shabbiness with a calculated run into space. He appeared to have shanked his shot, but it turned out to be just the perfect place and height for Kahmann to spring a natural volley.
Grilled's old weaknesses surfaced, and unconvincing defending in the wide areas led to Vyborg's 60th and 62nd minute goals. Turschl will be enjoyed by their fans, from how he eluded
Lee Lee Hao to grab the former, while it was a case of communal ball-watching when wily German star Henning Scheer intercepted a telegraphed pass almost immediately after that.
It was all the Birds could do to limit the Lions to just one more, a Tănase tap-in off a replay-worthy Scheer assist, and
Nicola Vandeneynde was in no hurry to join the fray in time added on.
