UFL Cup: Loyola wins 12-0, Pachanga survives Laos
Match reports from last Monday's last day of UFL Cup group matches.
Loyola 12, Mendiola 0
In the UFL, nobody takes a team to the woodshed quite like Loyola Meralco Sparks.
In last year's UFL Cup they bludgeoned Socceroo 15-1. In this year's League they massacred Navy 14-0.
In another one for the Murder File, the Sparks trampled a callow Mendiola side 12-0, with five scores from Phil Younghusband, two from Jang Jowon, two from Jeong Byeong Yeol, and one apiece from Mark Hartmann, PJ Fadrigalan, and Chad Gould.
Loyola has now scored 20 goals in their last two games, after demolishing Nomads 8-1 in their previous outing.
The Sparks played simple, unselfish football with lots of 1-2 passing against a sluggish Mendiola defense as Meralco win group C via goal difference.
James Younghusband did not start the game, with coach Kim Chul Su favoring Rodrigue Nembot at right wing.
But in the first half Anto Gonzales was replaced by James after the U.P. Fighting Maroons coach momentarily lost consciousness after a hard shot struck him in the back of the head.
James then took his usual place in the wing while Nembot shifted to holding mid.
Mark Hartmann was sensational in setting up two goals with his passing, and his goal, a close-range volley off a Phil Younghusband cross, was arguably the prettiest of the dozen.
Fadrigalan scored after terrific work from Jake Morallo near the endline. The former Bedan, playing against many of his friends, served up a great ball later on that Alexandro Elnar headed home but the assistant referee disallowed it for offside.
Mendiola 1991 can take heart in the performances of Christopher Pedimonte, who struck the post in the first half, and Jay Soberano, who nearly scored off a narrow angle twice early in the second half.
The Sparks used two keepers, with Ref Cuaresma playing the first half and Mark Sorongan manning the sticks for the second.
Loyola now play Army on Thursday in the last eight. If they win that game they play either Kaya or Global in the Final Four.
Pachanga 3, Laos 2.
For Nomads fans, it was a case of 'Yves Ashime giveth, Yves Ashime taketh away.'
A few weeks ago Pachanga's Ivorian centerback nodded the ball into his own net against Nomads after miscommunicating with keeper Manuel Saubach. That led to a shock 1-0 win for the Merville-based squad.
On Tuesday night against Laos, Ashime scored another header goal, this time into his opponent's net. It proved to be the goal that sends Pachanga into the quarterfinals of the UFL Cup at the expense of Nomads.
Nomads, Pachanga, and Loyola all finished group C play with nine points, but Nomads, with the worst goal difference, won't make the last eight.
Had Ashime not scored and the game finished 2-2, Nomads would have progressed because of a better point total.
Pachanga and Laos put together one of the most exciting matches of the UFL Cup in a see-saw battle that had a bit of everything. Laos displayed a phenomenal work rate and often seemed to be playing an aggressive 4-3-3 formation much of the time.
Pachanga started brightly, with their 34-year-old striker Freddy Gonzales almost opening the scoring in the nineteenth minute with a breathtaking bicycle kick straight at Laos keeper Oliver Moreno.
Moreno impressed again with his daredevil goalkeeping style. Early in the campaign he repeatedly stoned Phil Younghusband in a 2-1 loss to Loyola.
Midway through the first half referee Joel Lamboson ejected Pachanga coach Bob Salvacion for verbal abuse.
Salvacion was more pleased with Lamboson just before halftime when the ref pointed to the spot after Pachanga's midfield engine Boyet Canedo was felled in the box .
Canedo took the penalty kick himself, tucking it into the lower left corner to open the scoring.
Four minutes into the restart Pachanga doubled their lead when Ariel Zerrudo served up a gorgeous diagonal ball that found Hector Zagi. The Brazilian fired it in from a very tight angle for 2-0.
But five minutes later Laos pulled one back when Ahmed Hwedi produced a splendid pass that Aaron Altiche brilliantly headed into the left corner past Saubach, who was left rooted to the line.
Eight minutes later the comeback was complete when Hwedi stabbed the ball in off a short pass from Kenshiro Daniels.
That set up a frantic phase of the game for the Red Phoenix, who now stared elimination in the face.
With seventeen minutes to go Gonzalez had a chance off the breakaway but couldn't keep his shot down.
Seven minutes later Gonzalez could have scored again off a great Zerrudo cross but he slipped before he could shoot.
Then in the 82nd, Ashime settled matters with his header off a corner, silencing a small band of Nomads players who had come to watch.
Deep in stoppage time Laos almost grabbed a late equalizer but Reginald Jukes' powerful free kick just skimmed over the bar.
The Red Phoenix now meet Green Archers in the quarters in, with the winner playing either Stallion or General Trias. The Pachanga- Archers game has yet to be scheduled.
You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.
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