UFL Cup: Army come back from three down to draw Laos, Ceres wins
Recaps of Tuesday's UFL Cup Group A matches in Emperador Stadium.
Army 3, Laos 3.
In probably the wildest game of the UFL Cup group stage, Army turned back a 3-0 halftime deficit to draw with Laos in a match filled with dramatic twists and turns.
Laos looked like they were going to run away with the game by pummeling Army early. Iranian Mohammad Ghasemi headed through Army keeper Victorino Troyo's hands for an opener in the fourth minute off a delivery from Jhonny Dalman.
Fourteen minutes later Ghasemi made it 2-0 when he beat Troyo with his head again off the near post, converting a pass from Patrik Franksson.
Midway through the first half Franksson got in the scoreboard himself by unleashing a powerful long-range shot that found the top corner for 3-0.
But Army, bouyed by the entry of veteran Jeffrey Lobaton, battled back.
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Five minutes into the second half Army were awarded a penalty after a Laos handball. Boogie Margarse slotted home for 3-1.
Just two minutes later Lobaton blasted home from close range off a rebound after Laos goalie Oliver Moreno parried a shot clear, to make it 3-2.
In the 69th Army's pressure paid off again when substitute Romano Vestal volleyed into the net for 3-3 after Moreno fumbled a cross.
But with twelve minutes to go Laos seemed to be thrown a lifeline when Gil Villanueva was tossed for manhandling a Laos player in his box, prompting referee Deck Pacaña to give Laos a penalty.
Army complained vociferously, and Pacaña ejected the military team's coach, Ricky Cain.
But Ghasemi's spot kick was brilliantly read and saved by Troyo to keep Army's hopes alive.
Ten-man Army pelted the Laos goal frame with late attempts but Lobaton, Relan Bretaña, and Vestal were unable to beat Moreno.
It's the last group game for both clubs and Army may still have faint hope of sneaking into the knockout stage as a best fourth placer with four points. Laos, with a solitary point, finish bottom of the group.
Ceres-La Salle 2, Pachanga Diliman 1.
Pachanga Diliman went into this game without first-choice keeper Kim Versales of Masbate because he was unable to return in time from the UniGames in Bacolod. Versales is National University's Goalkeeping Coach.
The team missed his services badly.
Steve Yambou, the Pachanga understudy between the sticks, had a rough night, committing two costly errors that led to goals for Ceres.
Kim Jin Ho put the Bacolod-based team on top in the 34th by poking home after Yambou spilled the leather.
Then seven minutes later Ceres substitute Jalsor Soriano spotted Yambou off his line and from well outside the penalty area launched a perfect lob that arched beyond the keeper's fingertips and under the crossbar for 2-0.
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Pachanga stormed out of the gates with several chances in the second half, but they all missed the mark.
Then two minutes before halftime PD's Ariel Zerrudo stormed down the left flank with the ball and from an acute angle beat Ceres keeper Hyoun Hae Jun to put his team just a goal adrift.
Ten minutes later Nate Burkey nearly erased the deficit when his header sailed mere inches from the corner of Hyoun's goal frame.
Three minutes from time Ceres could have regained the two-goal cushion but Josh Beloya, after dispossessing Deo Segunial near the penalty box, shanked his ensuing attempt.
Yambou's poor day finished with a yellow card minutes later for a studs-up challenge on Ceres sub Park Hwa Seo.
Ceres winds up atop Group A with nine points and will be in the round-of-16. Pachanga also qualify on seven points, level with Manila Jeepney.
Follow Bob om Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
