Rzeźnicy Rendered
Pieces Of Six
The Birds wouldn't go easy on Saint Kitts and Nevis IV.25 visitors Źli Rzeźnicy IV in their second-last friendly of the season, with domestic head coach Elliot Davis not really giving his team too much chance either with a reserve lineup. That they then lost only by six goals was testament to the energy of their selection, that blended a dash of youth with old loyalists.
Tian Yonghang wasn't shy about mixing it up either, and one will probably not often see a front three of
Aw Keng Chuan,
Kendell El Khateeb and
Paulino Trindade. A
midfield three of
Chia Kwang Tse,
Hwang Teck Fu and
Mohd Marzuki Khairul had to be overkill, though, and indeed much of the early creation would spill over from them. Hwang gave debuting goalkeeper Percival Clarke no hope with a twenty-yard blockbuster in the seventh minute, and Marzuki likewise with his sliced effort 25 minutes in.
There would be some debate over who would take charge of the Birds' free-kick won seconds after their second goal, with
Genki Nagano and
Aw Keng Chuan both staking their claim. It was resolved amicably enough in the end, as Genki lifted it high to the right side of the box, where Trindade bumped it at Aw - who seldom misses from this range. 3-0!
Paulino Trindade would then receive his own reward three minutes later, but not before Hwang had thrashed another great shot off the upright. Marzuki would drift wide, and
Chad Thach inside, for the second half, which brought Clarke maybe his proudest moment of the friendly in the 48th minute, as the blocked a close-range header by Grilled's national forward.
That brought some sporting applause from the home fans too, which was also in abundant supply when the hardworking but underutilized
Kendell El Khateeb made way for
Mason Glendinning on the hour. Glendinning would not find the net either, alas, coming closest in added time after Genki and Thach had done the honours.
