Amaya When It Matters
At the end, the three points was all that mattered for
Tian Yonghang, as Grilled Birds enter the final weekend still at the top of the table, if by a single point against Phantasm Hotspurs, who shut Mayuyu AKB48 out 4-0. This sets up a hotly-anticipated decider at home for the Birds, which was just how Tian wanted it.
"We want to win it in front of the supporters." the head coach insisted. "As a former player, I know well that feeling myself."
While Tian admitted that the outcome was hardly a given, from how the earlier fixture had ended in a draw, he backed
Joe Reece to do the job. "Barring some reverse miracle, he should be collecting the Golden Boot after the game - and, we all hope, the league trophy too!"
Thom Godling's lone goal for Shadow Chaser(R) SC against Controlar, before being sent off for starting a fight, would put the third-placed Controlar out of contention, while Krattene's relegation was confirmed with their loss today, although they did not have much actual hope regardless. tpyers will have to play a decider despite their 6-2 home win over Sunrise Treasure FC, who need to rebuild in Division Four too.
Double celebrations are perhaps on tap as Farmer Bunnies opened a three-point lead at the top of III.9 by defeating challengers FC Phondle, who appeared to have managed to hold the line against the Buns' periodic counters, before
Amaya Ravula sensationally came through in the very last minute. That nearly sparked a riot at The Playground with Heng Chuan Chao chopping
Arun Ponnusamy down in a rush to equalize, but the Buns emerged with their skins intact, and likely the title.
"Now, all we need is a point against the Pittas next week." team boss
Vishnu Tallapaka purred. "I think we are capable of that."
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Prakash Bhujbal would not feature today, against most expectations, but with
Mauro Fau picking up an ankle injury and
Lau Keng Kwang suspended due to three yellows, there should be a spot for him in the next match. Brighton UK's mammoth 2-4 slip-up against FC Jurong Rovers sees them out of the race too, with Really McCoys now having to beat WhiteSandsMechs next week, just to keep Farmer Bunnies from capturing the prize by default.
Grilled International were coming off a busy week, in which they had battled to successive draws in the Tzepesh Cup tournament. First up were Jamaican III.10 contenders BB Kingston Bears, whose Enrico Chiuselli cancelled
Umut Koza's opener almost as soon as it happened. Former Senegalese Consolante winners RFC Eichmatt III then built a two goal lead in the next fixture, only to be pegged back by Koza and then
Safari bin Hj Jali, in an encouraging final twenty minutes.
Saudi Arabian league opponents Elefanten der Wüste were a walk in the park compared to those tests, and
Chua Jun Long's seventh career hat-trick would see him open up a commanding gap of four goals between himself and AC Rabissale's Anfinnur Næs, in the scoring stakes. The title itself was of course long out of reach, with Amelinho Kickers the likely champions, unless AC Rabissale manage to defeat them by at least five goals playing away.
