2013 UFL Cup groups set, interesting matchups abound
The 2013 United Football League Cup has decided its groups, and there is no shortage of intriguing showdowns on tap.
27 teams will compete in the fifth edition of the competition, which kicks off on October 12. All matches will be held in Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill, Taguig.
On Friday at Skinny Mike's Sports Bar the UFL assigned teams into the six round-robin groups, three of which have five teams and three of which have just four. There were supposed to be 28 teams split into seven groups of four, but in the morning of the draw Nomads Manila withdrew, forcing the change in the groups.
It was revealed by the league that Nomads' request for an exemption in the five-foreigners-on-the-field rule for the Cup was denied, hence the pullout.
The groups with five teams will see their top three enter the knockot round-of-16 stage, while the groups with four clubs will have their top two assured of passage, plus the best third-placer.
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The teams were placed in four different “pots” based on their finish in the UFL League first and second divisions, plus one pot for non-league sides. Then each pot was emptied and distributed team-by-team and assigned a group via blind draw, with members of the media as well as league officials drawing slips of paper with the teams and groups concealed in film canisters.
Group A is an interesting bunch featuring Green Archers United Globe, Forza, Cimarron, debutantes Manila Jeepney, and Cebu Queen City United.
It's Jeepney's first competition, and they will rely on ex-Nomad Miko Mabanag and former Pasargad forward Masoud Shadideh. Forza and GAU meet in the Cup group stage for the second year in a row.
Group B will see a rematch of the 2011 UFL Cup Final between Philippine Air Force and Loyola Meralco Sparks. Agila FC and General Trias International, who went on a deep run in last year's cup, round out the group.
Group C is probably the closest thing to a Group of Death. Last year's Cup runners-up Global square off against Pasargad, Philippine Navy, newcomers Manila Tala, and Ceres- La Salle, the winners of the Smart National Club Championship.
Ceres was, ironically, picked by their assistant coach Ali Rojas Go, and gasps reverberated around the room when the Bacolod-based club wound up in the very tough group.
Group D features defending champs Stallion, Philippine Army, Dolphins, and Blue Guards. Army were also drawn with Stallion in last year's Cup and surprised them with an upset win.
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Group E is comprised of Pachanga Diliman, newly-promoted Team Socceroo, Laos, returning San Beda alumni club Mendiola 1991, and Bright Star.
Kaya should be very happy with their placing in Group F against Division 2 bridesmaids Union International Manila, second-tier minnows Manila All-Japan, and non-league Manila Hurricanes, neé Manhur United. However Kaya official Justin Tolentino said that they weren't exactly celebrating since “Dave (coach David Perkovic) doesn't like unknowns. You can't scout them.”
Only Kaya and Green Archers United Globe are the Division 1 clubs who will not have to play a team that was in the top flight in the last league season in their Cup groups.
The season begins on October 12, with playdates on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The league hopes to finish the round robin stage on November 12, and would like to play the Final on December 5. UFL director of Football Operations Ritchie Gannaban said that league officials will meet with the PFF and the Azkals management to work out schedules.
Green Archers and Forza are loose affiliates, as are Loyola and Agila. Since the two pairs of teams meet in the group stage, Gannaban says he will schedule their matches first to avoid the possibility of one team doing their sister team a favor by lying down and/or conceding lots of goals should they be needed to progress.
This is the fifth running of the UFL Cup, which unlike the pure round-robin UFL League, has a playoff phase. Air Force won the first Cup in 2009. In 2010 Global took the honors, defeating Air Force in the final 3-2 in a match that was actually played in early 2011. The Airmen returned to the winners' circle in December 2011 when they topped Loyola 2-0 in the final. Last year Stallion lifted the trophy after strikes from Balot Doctora and Rufo Sanchez powered them to a 2-1 final win over Global.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
