UFL: Global no longer perfect as Sparks hold them to draw; Pasargad routs Army
Recaps of Tuesday's games from Emperador Stadium.
Global 1, Loyola Meralco Sparks 1.
Global are still the best team in the league, but are no longer perfect.
Nursing a 1-0 lead with thirteen minutes to go in the game against the Sparks, Global substitute left back Nino Ochotorena somehwat naively undercut James Younghusband near the edge of the box by the end line.
The foul was just within the penalty area, and referee Ariel Montaña blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.
Global keeper Roland Dely Sadia guessed correctly to his right on Phil Younghusband's spot kick, but although he got a piece of the ball, it wasn't enough to keep it from going in.
That made the score 1-1, and when no goals were added for the rest of the game, Global's spotless record was finally blemished.
They are still unbeaten atop the table with 22 points from eight games, while Meralco is two points adrift, and Stallion is alone at eighteen points.
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Global grabbed the lead in the tenth minute with Patrick Reichelt's sensational header off a corner kick that made a beeline into the top left corner of Ref Cuaresma's goal frame.
Nine minutes later things were almost level when Global right back Jerry Barbaso made a poor back pass to Sadia that Phil Younghusband intercepted. Unfortunately the best the Azkal could do was clang it off the crossbar.
Global had more chances in the first half with their high-pressing midfield stifling Loyola. But in the second 45 minutes the Sparks came to life. Soon after the hour mark Chad Gould headed over, and Jeong Byeong-yeol and Simon Greatwich spurned opportunities to equalize.
Phil Younghusband's conviction to win was no more apparent than when he tracked back on defense to shut down Yu Hoshide in the left wing. That hard work paid off when his brother was felled in the box, earning the penalty which he converted.
Meralco could have even won the game had new signing Angelo Marasigan Verheye's two late shots not been well-saved by Sadia.
“We didn't play at the level I know we can play” Global coach Brian Reid said to his charges after the game.
OTHER NOTES: Global team owner Dan Palami confessed that several of his players were struck with food poisoning during the match. Val Kama had to be subbed at the half, Carlos Tresor Guisso was relieved late, and even goal scorer Patrick Reichelt fell ill.... Ed Sacapano was Global's backup keeper. The Army man has been either loaned or transferred to the defending champs and will likely start for Global in the AFC President's Cup in May in Cebu.... Meanwhile Meralco was without any backup netminder. Mark Sorongon was hurt and did not dress. Third-string keeper Michael Menzi was unavailable, and even emergency keeper Junior De Murga was injured and did not play.... Josh Beloya of Ceres is now also with Global and he came on as a late sub..... Palami said that after my recent April Fool's Day blog post about the Azkals playing Brazil, he received several interview requests about the game. Although he knew it was a ruse ( I showed him the article and got his permission two days before I published it) he couldn't help but take a few interviewers for a ride nonetheless.
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Pasargad 4, Army 0.
Army's miserable league season took yet another turn for the worse as they stumbled badly against seventh place Pasargad.
Emmanuel Mbata scored a double while Jahambahksh Taher and Younousse Yaogo delivered one goal apiece.
Taher supplied the opener in the 19th minute, from close range off a rebound of his own shot that Army keeper Victorino Troyo parried.
Mbata made it 2-0 in the 30th minute when he tapped in off a cross from Younousse Yaogo.
Three minutes into first-half stoppage time Yaogo got on the scoresheet with a thunderous long-range left-footer that found the top left corner, beyond Troyo's grasp.
In the 82nd minute Mbata broke free of the lax Army defense, rounded Troyo, and coolly finished to make it 4-0.
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Troyo was by far the busier of the two keepers and his work prevented a more embarrassing scoreline, as Pasargad rather outclassed the Armed Forces club.
Army's other bright spot was Meliton Pelayo, who came close to scoring on three occasions, even grazing the crossbar with a long-range effort in the second half.
Pasargad improves to eight points from as many games while Army is second-to-bottom on four points, level with Green Archers United Globe.
OTHER NOTES: Pasargad coach Essie Sedigh said that a Pasargad team will play in an AFC Futsal tournament in May. Most of the players of that team are separate from the Football team, but Hamed Hajimedhi will take part.... Army trotted out Fil-German civilian Jake Macuja in the second half but he failed to make much of an impact. He wore a number 9 shirt that looked like a number 19 with the “1” blanked out.... Army did get an encouraging shift from youngster Erwin Silvestre, a rare young talent in an aging squad.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
