UFL: Controversy rages in GAU-Army draw, Kaya spanks Socceroo
Match reports from Thursday's UFL Division One matches in Emperador Stadium.
Green Archers United Globe 2, Army GTI 2
Another stirring comeback. Another frenetic finish. Another seething controversy regarding a late call by the referees.
In the 89th minute and with the Archers nursing a 2-1 lead, Army General Trias International's Kang Dae Han fired a close-range shot right at Archer keeper Patrick Deyto's feet.
The Azkal, who appeared to be standing on the goal line, caught the ball between his legs and did not seem to swing it back. Under FIFA rules, the ball must completely be beyond the line for a goal to stand. Even if a sliver of the ball is on the line, there is no goal.
But the assistant referee signaled a score, and it was given by main ref Ariel Montaña. This sparked a heated reaction from the United players, with Deyto, who rushed up to the AR to complain, receiving a yellow card.
Two minutes later Montaña blew his whistle, handing the Archers their third draw in as many league games. GAU continued to protest the goal, with CB Lawrence Ikegwuruka seeing red after clashing with Montaña. The Nigerian claimed the referee insulted and demeaned him.
It was a stormy end to a solid fightback by Army GTI, who move to four points in the standings.
GAU started well with a fourth-minute goal from Jovanie Simpron, who broke through a static Army defense and eased the ball beyond a somewhat misplaced Ed Sacapaño in goal.
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Six minutes after the hour mark the Archers went a further goal ahead when substitute Robert Lopez-Mendy converted a Chieffy Caligdong cross for 2-0.
But in the 86th Army's Jonathan Cain exploited some schoolboy defending from GAU to beat Deyto for 2-1. Three minutes later Army controversially leveled.
GAU manager Monchu Garcia was unsparing in his assessment of the official's work that evening. And aside from the second Army goal, he was also up in arms over non-calls against his boys.
“They had a bad game, and that's putting it mildly” said Garcia of the refs. “They let the game deteriorate.”
Garcia was furious at the non-calls on Army sub Ronel Gener, who sent a hard forearm into the back of Archer Tating Pasilan within minutes of entering the game, and also felled the GAU sub in the box later on.
“The result of the game was decided by the ref and that should never happen in Football” said the manager.
Army were the first to complain about the refereeing. At the half Army officials and players sparred with Montaña and his crew after Yok Becite was cautioned.
As for the hits on Pasilan, Army coach Ricky Cain said “kailangan mong pisikalan si Pasilan kase kung hindi, lulusot at lulusot yan.”(You have to be physical with Pasilan or else he will slip past you.)
Kaya 7, Team Socceroo 1.
Kaya welcomed back the services of OJ Porteria, who had his red card against Global reversed. The young Azkal and his team mates did not disappoint, as Kaya roared to a handsome win.
Socceroo competed well for the first twenty minutes, even getting off two clean shots at goal. But when Chris Greatwich put Kaya 1-0 in front from the penalty spot nineteen minutes in, Kaya began to impose their will on Socceroo's overmatched defense.
Nine minutes later Emmanuel Mbata made it 2-0, beating TS keeper Guilherme Haseagawa from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
Five minutes before halftime Kaya made it 3-0 with a sublime team goal. Joven Bedic cleverly backheeled into space, allowing Eddie Mallari to loft a cross that Mbata slammed past the keeper.
Bedic was involved again in the goal three minutes later, when he eschewed a clear goalscoring chance for himself on a breakaway and instead offloaded to Mbata, who smoothly connected for his hat trick.
Toshiya Hosoe's far post header off a corner made in 5-0 in the fiftieth minute before Socceroo pulled one back with a goal from Lee Jeong Woo in the 60th.
A minute later Porteria latched on a splendid through ball from Janrick Soriano and danced around Hasegawa before knocking the ball in from an acute angle to make it 6-1. Porteria also accounted for the final Kaya score, off the opposite angle in the 82nd.
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“I was wary about this game because sometimes a team can take a bottom club lightly” said Kaya coach David Perkovic. Obviously his worries were unfounded. Kaya is now at six points from three games. Socceroo has lost all three top-flight outings.
OTHER NOTES: Kaya substitute keeper Mark Sorongon did not dress today after hurting his knee against Global. Kaya did not have any other keeper on the bench. Perkovic says the team will ask an outfield player to train as an emergency keeper, but refused to name him, saying with a smile that it will be a surprise... Jeffrey “Pong” Liman is back with Kaya. The former Azkal mid from Dumaguete is no longer coaching for San Beda and is back with is old UFL club, where he played under Juan Cutillas. Liman is now doing some assistant coaching for the squad but did not rule out the possibility of suiting up for Kaya once he gets fit.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
