Slushy Six
Just Call Joe
Grilled Birds would be reunited with Offshore Haven, with whom they had spent a season together in III.1 three seasons ago, in the second round of the Singapore Cup. Haven would be relegated that season, after 0-7 and 0-6 defeats to the Birds, but they then did very well for themselves in topping IV.36 and returning to Division Three, where they have since secured a mid-table finish in III.14. Unfortunately, the gap between the clubs had remained more or less constant, from the final score in this 400th cup victory for Grilled.
Offshore Haven had strengthened with the purchase of foreign stars such as fullbacks Mirko Scharl and Vittorio Polsi, and goalkeeper Giorgio Carulli, but none of those would feature today. Instead, it would be Chiang Jin Xin - celebrating his 25th birthday - to stand between the sticks, and 22 year-old Chilean midfielder Enrique Izamit to direct their 5-4-1 from midfield. Haven's hastily-arranged press would not be very effective, though, as Grilled focused their efforts on punching through the centre.
About this,
Gandhik Chitre led the initial efforts down the right, as he worked seamlessly with
Paulino Trindade to take opposing captain Charlie Maslin out of contention, in the seventh minute. Chiang produced a brilliant save at the near post then, but the Birds' sustained efforts would soon grind Haven's defence down like clockwork.
Phua Ming Xin had the opener in the 19th minute after intricate setup, and
Damian Hutter would also come good six minutes later, as he saw a chance after two defenders hesitated as to who should clear the ball.
The direction of the match would not to be young fullback Tor Eslahinejad's liking, and he would be booked for booting the ball into the stands at The Bank in the 36th minute, after having a foul called on him for contact on Chitre. Ironically, Haven were actually doing quite well for that period, even if this did not extend to finding Chee Jing Chi with their long balls out.
Ha Qicai would get the Birds back on the scoring track after the interval, as Grilled gradually pushed the Haven lines back via relentless attacking and recycling of the ball. Repeated challenges would take their toll on
Gandhik Chitre eventually, and he would be taken off for Iceland international
Gústav Thoroddsen in the 56th minute, to a very warm reception from the travelling support.
Although Thoroddsen would not find the net today, his presence would be enough to skew Haven's defence towards him, which contributed materially to Grilled's additional three goals in the twelve minutes immediately following his arrival. Trindade would assist
Hwang Teck Fu and then
Joe Reece within a minute of each other as he reveled in the space opened up on the left, and Reece would come up with a sixth goal in the 68th minute, with
Aw Keng Chuan seeking him out.
