Singapore Cup: “Horrible refereeing” helps doom Loyola despite 3-3 draw
SINGAPORE- Two valiant shorthanded goals leading to a 3-3 draw wasn't enough to save the Loyola Meralco Sparks from elimination in the RHB Singapore Cup on Sunday.
Referee Sukhbir Singh sent off two Sparks, Park Min Ho and Jang Jowon, in the second match of the aggregate-goals quarterfinals series with Tanjong Pagar United.
Since the Jaguars won the first leg 2-1, Tanjong Pagar proceeds to the semifinals thanks to an aggregate score of 5-4.
While Jang's ugly foul on Sazali Salleh was admittedly deserving of an expulsion, the two yellow cards on Park were deemed harsh by Sparks coach Vince Santos.
“It was horrible refereeing” said Santos. “I think the cards changed the game. I felt that the first should have been a warning. But since he had already given a yellow, the second should have been a warning.”
ALSO READ: Pacquiao considering running for President.
“The fouls weren't meant to hurt and they weren't in dangerous areas of the pitch. I have a bad experience with him already from last year.”
In the 2012 Singapore Cup Singh disallowed a Chad Gould score in the first leg of the semifinal against Tampines Rovers.
But not even Singh's decisions could keep the Sparks from making a game of it.
Loyola played with an identical lineup from the first leg but put Park Min Ho in the holding mid position and brought back Jeong Byeong-yeol in the center of the defense.
There was a tweak up top as well with Jang Jowoong as lone striker and Phil Younghusband in a withdrawn position.
The evening's scoring began in the 37th minute when Park found the net. Jang Jo Won offloaded to his brother Jang Jowoong who flicked it artfully to Park. Park somewhat scuffed the ball but it hopped its way past keeper Aurelion Herisson into the corner of the net for 1-0.
ALSO READ: Gilas is now ready for Big Mission.
That made the aggregate score level at 2-2 and energized the Pinoy crowd at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
But in the 45th minute Ismael Benahmed restored the aggregate lead when he nodded home past Sparks goalie Baba Sampana.
It got worse just before the halftime whistle when Park fouled Monsef Zerka and Singh presented him with a yellow card. Since Park was already booked in the 24th minute, Singh followed up the yellow rectangle with a red one, reducing Loyola to just ten men.
Santos replaced Jang Jowoong with Armand Del Rosario in the interregnum and used him as a holding mid in a 4-1-3-1 formation.
But eleven minutes into the half spotty defending allowed Tanjong Pagar United's Hafiz Nor to hoof in a left-footed goal off a Benahmed feed for 2-1 on the night and 4-2 aggregate.
Six minutes later Paolo Bugas entered the fray for Roxy Dorlas, who injured his left ankle and was stretchered off.
Spark hopes were reignited in the 69th when Phil and James conspired, through some neat passing, to deliver the ball to an unmarked Jang Jo Won outside the six yard box. Although it was an awkward bouncing ball, Jang did well to power it into the net for 2-2 and 4-3 aggregate.
ALSO READ: Philippine Super Liga Day 7 recognitions.
Six minutes later Phil nearly leveled on aggregate with a long-range boot when he saw Herisson off his line, but the shot drifted high over the crossbar.
A minute later the Jaguars seemed to seal the match with a header goal from Frenchman Kamel Ramdani.
James Younghusband nearly pulled one back in the 81st but his volley fluttered high over the bar.
Five minutes from time Jang was dismissed for his challenge on Salleh that resulted in a fractured fibula for the midfielder.
But even with nine men, Loyola continued to battle. Two minutes into stoppage time Sampana stoned Zerka with a fine reflex save.
Then two minutes later Chad Gould, who was by now playing striker, steered in a Phil Younghusband free kick into the net with his head, for 3-3.
Unfortunately for the Pinoy club, Singh blew his whistle just a few minutes later. The 5-4 aggregate score enough to propel Tanjong Pagar United into the semifinal against Global in October. The night before Global had survived a furious Brunei DPMM rally to win their quarterfinal by the same aggregate score.
Santos rued the fact that he was forced to use a makeshift defense in this series. Gould's regular centerback partner, Cameroonian Rodrigue Nembot, was unable to go to Singapore for lack of a valid passport.
“You can only do so much without a proper partnership (in the center of the defense)” said the coach.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
