Fribi Fizzle
Toma Tamiya would be Grilled Birds' centre of attention for once, as the Japanese-Singaporean was mobbed by curious locals after the game - and his two goals probably didn't hurt either. Toma would be held up for nearly half an hour signing autographs, as he mused a return trip during his year-end holidays. "Haven't been back for a long time, actually." he grinned. "I'll see if my parents can make it."
Farmer Bunnies had no less illustrious opponents as they visited Delhi to play three-time Indian Cup winners Fribi United of the Indian II.4, where they matched the Birds' two-goal winning margin. Iranian legend Khashayar Hosseini Khorrami skippered Fribi out of the back, as Colombian striker David Antonio Ávila started while nursing an ankle issue. Volodymyr Kuleshevich would up converting a low cross with aplomb in the 15th minute, but
Ong Li Jing answered right back from
Gabriel Priebe's early curler into the box.
The match appeared headed towards a stalemate, thanks to the heroics of Indian goalie Panchal Phadke, but the 60 year-old would finally meet his match seven minutes from time, after he was forced to bring
Lim Guang Qiang down. He might have gotten away with it too were it not for the eagle eyes of Swiss referee Ralf Froehling, and Priebe would thrash it into the bottom right corner from the spot. That forced Fribi to venture forth in search of the equalizer, which left
Amaya Ravula to make it 3-1 Buns on the return.
Tahiti IV.25 club Pacific Breeze were easy pickings for Grilled International in contrast, as the franchise of former Ukrainian Sapphire Challenger Cup holders Kyiv Wonderers FC were spanked 0-6 by the Brunei side.
Hardi bin Besar thoroughly enjoyed himself making things happen from midfield, picking up two goals for himself in the process. "I nearly forgot how fun this was with International!" the 36 year-old exclaimed afterwards.
