The Devil You Know
Grilled's home win meant that they had avoided auto-relegation no matter the results of their final two games, as next opponents Glory Paradiso's 4-0 upset of Queenstown MZKs left them still seven points adrift of the Birds in seventh. Bukit Regency on the other hand are almost certainly going down, but might yet survive by winning both their matches.
It was exciting at the top, as Arcturules pulled within a single point of Singapore Red Dragons, after a well-executed home performance that had transfer-listed 30 year-old striker Choy Chee Da shine with a hat-trick in a 4-2 triumph. newbies are newbies maintained third place, with a late Wan Wadi Syarif brace ensuring that they beat Joker 9 by the same scoreline.
This was enough for Grilled captain
Ha Qicai. "We are looking to stay up first - the rest of the plan can come later."
The Buns were relegated after a 1-1 draw against second-placed Dragon Devil's in Clementi, that had them unable to catch sixth placed AMDK FC any longer.
Lee Yau Tong cancelled Eelo Mattila's 59th minute opener from a complicated free-kick, but although the hot-headed Li Jun Chuan would be sent off soon after, Farmer Bunnies simply couldn't piece together any serious opportunities.
Arun Ponnusamy - who had a blameless outing in defence and a great attempt on the counterattack saved by Sanjiv Sethi in the 16th minute - was of the opinion that the team could have done no more. "We simply didn't have the teeth, in the end. But we'll be back!"
Moeinsingapore opened a five-point lead after whitewashing AMDK FC 4-0, as the other fixtures also ended with shutouts. frunzelite have secured another season in Division Two after seeing Featureship FC off 2-0 in a physical game that saw Miltinho Couto Mello crocked, as Crypto Moon cleared Pasir Ris Corsairs 6-0 all too easily.
Grilled International retain a mathematical chance of survival, but one senses that few are holding their breath, despite a somewhat-credible 1-4 defeat to probable champions CD Barcelota.
Chua Jun Long had the Brunei fans chanting his name after an incredible ninth minute poach to match Mohd Badrul Hakim's breakaway goal, but referee Miguel Ecenarro then awarded the visitors a penalty, coolly slotted home by Nicolás Madroñero.
Goalkeeper
Darshana De Abrew remained furious at the decision even after the match, which he felt killed the team's mentality. "That was a nothing foul, the ref shouldn't be the one to decide a game, but he did."
No gun but Roses FC need a miracle to stop CD Barcelota despite their 3-0 mastering of Miki Muster today, as LEGIA GDAŃSK 2017's 2-2 draw against Atletico Zvedza CF threw doubt that they would be able to take points off the Chileans next weekend. DAB Ceuta meanwhile piled the pressure on the flagging FC Cuba Lötschen, as Jeroen Demoor hit three in a 4-1 comeback following Iván Bermejo's second-minute stunner.
