UFL: GAU notches first win, Loyola repulses Stallion
Match reports of Tuesday's Division One matches in Emperador Stadium.
Green Archers United Globe 7, Team Socceroo 1.
The Archers finally broke into the win column in this year's league with a stylish rout over TS. United's captain, Tating Pasilan, led the way with a second-half hat trick.
GAU coach Dolfo Alicante made a tactical switch, bringing right back Dodong Villareal up to striker and sending Arvin Soliman in his place on defense.
Gabe Olowoyeye began the scoring in the 20th minute, dribbling in a shot that pinged off Pasilan after a Park Jun Soo cross.
TS hung with their opponents until the 52nd minute, when things started unravel for the 2013 Division Two champs. Substitute Chieffy Caligdong centered low from the right flank and Pasilan powered past Socceroo keeper Rolando Cabaniero for 2-0.
Barely sixty seconds later Pasilan struck again with an almost carbon-copy goal. Only this time the cross from Caligdong deflected off TS captain Enzo Pinga's leg, over Cabaniero, and to Pasilan for a header finish.
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Just past the hour mark Park Yi Young of Socceroo unleashed a wicked 35-yard free kick that was on target, denied by the palms of GAU keeper Patrick Deyto. One minute later Park found the back of the net, exploiting a bad touch by Jesse Martindale and spearing into the low left corner for 3-1.
But one minute later, the three-goal cushion was restored when Pasilan got his third under both amusing and spectacular circumstances.
The San Carlos City winger muffed a first attempt at a left-footed volley so badly that the ball ballooned into the air in front of him. While the Socceroo defense dithered, Pasilan went for a second bite of the cherry with the volley, and this time smoked the ball into the net from above his waist for 4-1.
“Masama ang first touch, napaganda yung second touch” said Pasilan with a smile afterwards.
Ten minutes later Martindale made it 5-1 from the penalty spot, but was red carded right after the shot because of abusive language just previously. Martindale insisted that he swore at himself because of a mistake, and one of the assistant referees thought he was swearing at him.
This is the third controversial refereeing decision that hurts GAU lately, and manager Monchu Garcia once again gave the officials a piece of his mind after the final whistle.
Two Caligdong goals in the embers of the contest brought GAU's total to seven. The score somewhat flatters United though, as Socceroo had some real opportunities to score off Park Yi Young and Lee Jeong Woo.
OTHER NOTES: Five minutes before time Socceroo's Mark Rivera suffered a knee injury in a collision with Deyto. It was revealed that Rivera's kneecap was dislocated. Rivera was rushed to the hospital and was discharged that night in a wheelchair after the knee cap was returned by doctors to the front of the knee. The team expects Rivera to need a lengthy convalescence although Monchu Garcia did say that kneecap dislocations are typically not as serious as ACL injuries... Caligdong was in Iloilo yesterday for a Football clinic in a Yolanda-devastated area, which is why he was unable to train and did not start.... Pasilan's treble is all the more impressive considering he continues to suffer from back pain and was even seen grimacing in the post match press con after someone slapped him on the back.
Loyola Meralco Sparks 3, Stallion 1.
Two ex-Stallions took the field against their former team in the orange kits of Loyola. When the dust cleared, Lee Joo Young and Joaco Cañas emerged winners against their former clubmates in a physical, up-tempo and at times testy encounter between last years League and Cup champs.
Loyola tightens their hold on top of the table with a fifth win in as many outings, while Stallion slips to seventh with only five points.
The Sparks made it 1-0 in the 31st minute when Simon Greatwich delivered a great cross to Boyet Cañedo in the box. The center mid's header beat Stallion keeper Pedro Marenco but not the post. Fortunately for Loyola the ball clanged off the woodwork straight to Phil Younghusband, who blasted home from mere feet away.
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But on the hour mark Stallion got a breakthrough when sub Nasser Doroudian was tripped up by Loyola's Alexandro Elnar in the box. Hamed Hajimehdi drove in the ensuing penalty past Baba Sampana for the equalizer.
Stallion joy was short-lived. Just seven minutes later, in a breathtaking individual display of speed and finishing, Lee took the ball from near midfield to near the edge of the box, and with swing of his left foot, drilled the ball past Marenco into the low right corner to restore the lead.
Four minutes from time Younghusband settled matters when he got his second, nutmegging Marenco from the right side after gathering a pass from Lee.
Next up for the Sparks is a Saturday clash with eighth-place club Socceroo.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
