Big Game Hunter
More Martinsson History
As if
Ola Martinsson required any further embellishment to an already honour-laden Grilled career - but the Swede legend added another chapter to his epic story regardless, fishing out a hattrick in the Hattrick Masters on the second biggest stage of all, behind only the Hattrick World Cup.
He was ably supported for once by the midfield line, which provided service that was so often missing in the S-League. The goals may have dried up for Martinsson domestically, however, when it matters, Grilled still have only one number to dial.
Opponents of the night, Mellieha F.C. of Malta, have like Grilled been floating in the top half of their respective premier divisions. In the past fortnight, they had enjoyed four heavy wins, outscoring their challengers by an aggregate of 19 goals to two. Grilled on the other hand had experienced a deflating early Cup exit, then a credible draw with Herron before losing 0-2 to Codingin over the weekend.
With the S-League title a faint possibility, the Masters would likely be the centerpiece of an otherwise drab season. Thus, Grilled took no chances, naming a starting XI that would flood the midfield. Veteran
Shen Kek-Tjiang was moved back to replace a half-fit
Fabian Bona, while Quah was promoted to midfield general. Spirig was detailed to cut in from the right, and van Liere tasked to fly down the left wing.
Mellieha came in their customary deep blue and white strips, and arrayed themselves in the classical 4-4-2. Four uncompromising defenders would form a base for counterattacks, with new S$8.6 million Croatian signing Nedeljko Novakovic a formidable last obstacle in goal. Thai superstar Itthipon Samsee, a S$12.5 million acquisition from Turkish champs Wuhou, led the team out as captain. Per Hermansson, a Swedish forward with a tendency to drift wide, would act as his foil.
To say Grilled's fans were expectant was an understatement, with the disappointment in the Singapore Cup still etched in their memories. Knowing that this could be Grilled's last Masters run for some time, they communicated a certain urgency to their idols, who responded in kind.
Dani Spirig made inroads in the 15th minute after a suitably tense start, as Kadak sought out his clever run with a deft pass down the middle. Novakovic was on his toes, though, and threw himself over the slowing ball to keep Spirig at bay.
Then, Martinsson sensed it was his time. Notwithstanding the tight watch kept on him, he slashed his way past former Korean U-20 defender Young-Chul Pak with a masterful toepoke, taking his partner Jimi Suurbier out of the equation in the process. One more touch, and Martinsson guided the ball into the bottom right corner, sweet as anything.
Grilled grew in confidence as the crowd drank it in, large sections of the gallery rising as one to salute their longtime hero. Their acclamations had barely lowered in volume when Paullin gave them more reason to celebrate. He was just too fast, his momentum carrying him past Suurbier's questionable challenge before bundling a second goal into the net just three minutes later.
Mellieha saw the game slipping away far too early, and Itthipon Samsee was especially fired out, burning Sid for speed in a foray down the left. Sid was a whole bodylength behind the Thai striker when he tried to recover the ball with a full-blooded scything tackle, for which he was fortunate to only get a yellow card.
The visitors' ex-Maltese national midfielder Dino D'Amato could have hit back for his mother club when he brought down a long ball from Rolf Sailer with great assurance, but he could not steady himself with Fredgård breathing down his neck, finally thrashing the ball well over Sulaiman into the night sky.
That miss was doubly painful as the resulting goal kick fell to van Liere, who instantly set off at a torrid pace and went past Sailer, having had little to do for the first half hour. Martinsson automatically positioned himself for the inbound pass, which came just in time for him to clip it past Novakovic without interference.
Heads drooped in the visitors' section with that third goal, as the game now looked well beyond Mellieha's reach. Grilled had far too much possession for a realistic comeback to take place. Tempers were soon flared, as Mellieha's Israeli winger Eran Ben Aharon kicked the ball into the stands after the linesman seemingly miscalled a close throw-in decision. He was disciplined with the second caution of the game.
Spirig tested Novakovic with a surprising drive from an acute angle that could well have fell into goal over the keeper's head, but Novakovic's great vertical leap brought the ball down for his defence to hack away. The match then had new life breathed into it, when free-kick specialist Sid again brought down Samsee on purpose.
The expected second booking for Sid left Grilled with just two central defenders, but it turned out of little matter as Grilled still held sway over the all-important midfield. Martisson, the commentators noted, was on a hat-trick - and he fulfilled the spectators' hopes in astounding fashion.
Taking the ball in the center circle, he dribbled it without opposition for ten-odd metres before smashing it with his fabled right boot. Martinsson, so often lethal from distance when the pressure is off, had struck it straight and true. It was up there with his first goal in Grilled's first Cup final victory, one that should easily make it onto his career highlight reel.
With the win safely in the bag, the quality of football dropped somewhat. Spirig clattered hard into Lambotte, leaving the midfielder stricken for a minute and getting himself a yellow card, an outcome that left both players clearly unhappy. Rottman, who missed Grilled's first Masters trial through injury, missed out on a fairytale ending as he drove a grounder into the woodwork on his Masters debut.
Niggling fouls followed as Mellieha went for broke, and in the 86th minute Eran Ben Aharon argued with the referee in a bout of silliness. The sending off however contributed to his team's consolation goal, as van Liere severely underhit the dead ball and Werner Maric hit it first time to Samsee. The Thai captain ensured that Mellieha would at least not return to Malta empty-handed with a stylish flick of his feet.
Kadak, having lived in Martinsson's shadow for the whole match, did get his fifteen seconds in the limelight at the very end. Unfortunately for him, it was for taking down Suurbier in his hunger to get his name on the scoresheet, an offence that earned him the sixth and final card of a gritty affair.
