UFL: Kaya comes from behind to win, Global thump PLDT Home Fibr
Match reports from Thursday's UFL Division 1 matches in Emperador Stadium.
Kaya 3, Pasargad 1.
David Perkovic's men overcame a sluggish start and a one-goal deficit to cruise past bottom club Pasargad.
Kaya dominated proceedings early on, with shots from Thomas Taylor, OJ Porteria, and Joven Bedic all narrowly failing to breach Pasargad keeper Russel Pierson's net. Taylor came the closest, clanging off the post at the half-hour.
But six minutes before the half Pasargad pilfered an opener when Hamed Fateh squeezed through some half-hearted defending and nailed a shot past Kaya keeper Nick O'Donnell.
Six minutes into the second half Kaya struck back when Kenshiro Daniels headed a free kick past Pierson to level the score.
Kaya turned on the heat, with Anton Del Rosario and Chris Greatwich, Daniels, Taylor, and Bedic all spurning great chances at go ahead scores.
But in the 75th Kaya finally broke through. Substitute Emmanuel Mbata fended off the attentions of the Pasargad defense and expertly centered from the left flank. Porteria was unmarked and made no mistake in volleying home for 2-1.
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Seven minutes later Porteria tallied his second of the evening, rounding Pierson and firing at the net, only to see the shot cleared off the line. But moments later Porteria regathered the ball and eased it in from a very acute angle for 3-1.
Kaya's late substitute, heartthrob Daniel Matsunaga, nearly got on the scoresheet as well, unspooling a fierce 30-yard attempt that drifted just wide of the post.
Perkovic revealed afterwards that he wanted his team to stay patient going into the second half. He also betrayed a frustration with the club's wastefulness in front of goal.
“We need to be more composed in our finishing. We shouldn't just blast the ball, we need to shoot with more finesse.”
Kaya now has ten points in the table in third place.
Global 4, Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr 1.
Global leaned on a torrid first half to dismiss a depleted and unlucky Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr side.
Just minutes into the game Pachanga's N'Dri Joachim Amani was hurt and replaced by Jay Eusebio.
Mark Hartmann opened Global's account in the 25th minute with a terrific finish helped by slack marking from Pachanga.
Minutes later PLDT Home Fibr's keeper, Steve Yambou, was involved in a nasty collision with Global striker Mojtaba Miromohammadi. The Ghanaian keeper's ear was slashed in the challenge and he had to be substituted and rushed to the hospital. According to Pachanga's medical staff, Yambou's ear is gashed down to the cartilage and it is not clear when he will be able to return.
Coming in Yambou's place was veteran Kim Versales. He was tested immediately, and in the 35th minute was beaten by another Mark Hartmann strike off a neat one-two with Charles Pettys.
Six minutes later Global made it 3-0 when Misagh Bahadoran wriggled free from Jayson Cutamora and blasted home from the left side.
Deep in stoppage time Global defender Patrick Delon Yao administered a hard professional foul on PLDT Home Fibr's Reza Amirkhizan, who was streaking downfield on a counterattack. The Iranian immediately crumpled to the ground and writhed in pain, before standing up, charging at Yao, and thrusting his forehead at Yao's face. It is not clear if any contact was made.
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To the amusement of the crowd, Amirkhizan then returned to the ground and resumed his agonized convulsions.
Referee Jimmy Liman was not impressed by Amirkhizan's second motion on Yao and handed him a straight red along with a yellow for the Ivorian. A livid Amirkhizan had to be restrained by his team mates from going after the official.
Then in the ensuing free kick, Nate Burkey brilliantly steered the ball into the low left corner over the wall for 3-1 just as the half ended.
A ten-man PLDT Home Fibr squad put on a very good account of themselves in the second half, with Burkey forcing a save from Roland Sadia early on and Dingdong Fornea hooking across the face of the goal in the 68th minute.
But in the 71st minute Pettys headed past Versales off a Hartmann free kick to seal the points.
Afterwards Global coach Leigh Manson expressed his delight with the result and the move up top for Hartmann, who usually plays attacking mid. Hartmann now has four goals in his last two games. Manson also revealed that his injured players Carli De Murga, Izo Elhabbib, and Jason De Jong are all recovering well and could be back on the pitch soon.
Global is in sight of Loyola on the table with twelve points, three less than the league-leaders. Pachanga is stuck at sixth place with six points.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
