UFL Cup: Air Force shocks Kaya in extra time, Sparks rumble into quarters
Recaps of Tuesday's UFL Cup Round-of-16 matches in Emperador Stadium.
Philippine Air Force 1, Kaya 0 AET
It was yet another shining moment in the long and storied history of Philippine Air Force Football Club.
After a week of grueling typhoon relief duty that disrupted training, plus with five starters suspended, few gave the airmen any chance against Kaya. But this is one military team that refused to surrender on Tuesday night.
Jimmy Vergara Jr's 104th minute strike propelled Air Force into the quarters, and relegated Kaya to the stands. It's surely the biggest upset in the UFL this year.
“Sabi ko sa mga bata idedicate natin ito sa mga kasama natin sa Air Force na nag-pupuyat at nagpapagod para tulungan ang mga survivors” said Air Force coach Edzel Bracamonte. The Azkals assistant said his team only trained twice since the catastrophe began because of their relief duties.
For Kaya, it's a second straight loss to a team that will play in Division 2 in the next league. Kaya lost their last group match to Union, 4-3.
Two weeks ago Air Force saw Vince Chester Braga, Herbert Bayona, Antonio Albor, and Rodolfo Bebanco receive straight reds in a group stage melee with Stallion. Midfielder Ansing Gustilo, already on a yellow in that game, picked up another caution and sat out Tuesday's match.
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But Jalor Soriano, Tapoy Martinez, Glenn Bulaquina, Vergara, and Randy Bela-ong more than made up for the absence of the five with inspired play.
Kaya were definitely the brighter side in the first half, with Dinho Mbata almost scoring in the eleventh minute, denied by Neckson Leonora's fine clearance off the line.
Chris Greatwich volleyed over the bar two minutes before the half hour mark, and five minutes before the half Woody Ugarte headed agonizingly wide off the post after terrific service from Mbata.
Air Force employed Vergara as the lone striker while playing Ian Araneta deep so he could help out in defense.
In the second half Air Force started to win more of the midfield possession thanks in part to the composed play of their 43-year old captain, Jez Tonog. The Airmen played disciplined, compact defense and exhibited selfless midfield interplay to largely match Kaya in the second forty five minutes.
Jalor Soriano, Ian Araneta, and Randy Bela-ong all had attempts at the goal that didn't prosper.
Fourteen minutes before time Janrick Soriano, the brother of Jalor, checked into the game for Kaya, marking a rare occasion when brothers played against each other in the UFL.
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Tonog could have sealed it in injury time but his long-range shot drifted wide of Saba Garmaroudi's frame.
Just before the first period of extra time concluded Air Force picked up a free kick outside the box. Substitute Joebel Bermejo lofted it near the six yard box and Vergara, a 26-year-old from Barotac Nuevo, evaded his marker and kneed it in past Garmaroudi to send the small band of Airmen supporters into jubilation. It's Vergara's first-ever goal for Air Force.
But in the second fifteen minute of extra time Kaya pressed forward. Kaya's Aussie sub Mitchell Davidson thought he had leveled soon after the break but the goal was negated by a handball call.
Then the game got physical. Referee Christian Deck Pacaña sent off Kaya substitute Joven Bedic for a second yellow card after a rough tackle on Glen Bulaquiña. Soon after Bermejo also got his second yellow, reducing the game to a 10 on 10 match.
Air Force keeper Ken Dolloso was his team's late hero as he blanked Davidson in the final stanza then, with mere minutes remaining, tipped Ugarte's effort over the bar.
When Pacaña blew his whistle, Air Force celebrated as if they had won a championship. In a classy gesture, Kaya sub OJ Porteria went over to the Air Force fans and acknowledged them before congratulating the PAF players.
“We weren't clinical in our finishing. We didn't bury the ball into the net when we could have” bemoaned Kaya manager Paul Tolentino. David Perkovic, Kaya's coach, was away in Australia taking a coaching course and did not manage the match.
“It's Cup Football. This stuff happens” continued Tolentino. “We can't say we deserved to win.”
Kaya was also appreciative of the efforts of the PAF players in the typhoon relief.
“We are sincerely honored to be on the field with them after their round-the-clock service” offered Tolentino.
The Kaya official was not so positive about the refereeing, saying quite diplomatically that “I implore the league to review the game, and if corrections need to be made, to inform the refs.”
Kaya felt that they should have had a penalty in the second half when Neckson Leonora of Air Force appeared to have touched the ball with his hand in the box.
But there was nothing but joy in the PAF camp, as the Airmen reach the quarterfinals and are scheduled to play either Green Archers or Manila Jeepney.
Loyola Meralco Sparks 10, Cimarron 0.
The Sparks make the quarterfinals on a canter after brushing aside second-division Cimarron.
Phil Younghusband scored a hat trick, brother James struck twice, including a perfectly-taken free kick goal five minutes in, while Chad Gould fired in two goals as well. Lee Joo Young and Matt Hartmann also got on the scoresheet as did Cimarron's Yves-Luthi De Luis, who unluckily steered the ball into his own net in the ninth minute.
Loyola's former national team striker, Freddy Gonzalez, returned to significant action with a 79th minute entry, and nearly scored off his left foot five minutes from time, but the shot was well-collared by goalie Jerome Leung.
Cimarron depart the competition on a downer, with Iranian defender Mehdi Soltani admitting it was the first time in his life that he had lost by double-digits.
Afterwards Phil Younghusband revealed a bit about the Azkals' 1-1 draw to India in Siliguri, a game that was not televised because all of India's TV stations were concentrating on the Viswanathan Anand – Magnus Carlson world chess championship series and Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's last test match before retirement.
“We dominated and we should have won. We had a lot of half chances. The scoreline doesn't tell the whole story.”
Gonzalez revealed that he is “40% in terms of match fitness” but that he will be eased into games.
Sparks coach Vince Santos was also critical of the refereeing, with Cimarron's John Rubio not getting carded after kicking at Matt Hartmann when the ball was under the Loyola midfielder's legs.
“Everything has progressed except the refereeing. They've stayed stagnant, if not even regressive (sic).
Loyola, according to the league's bracket, will match up against Pachanga-Diliman in the elite eight.
GAMES THURSDAY:
Global vs Navy 5pm
Green Archers United Globe vs Manila Jeepney 7:45pm
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
