UFL: Stallion, Global stay perfect at expense of Kaya and Army
Recaps of Tuesday's UFL division 1 games at the Empy.
Global 6, Army 0.
It was a meeting of clubs going in opposite directions, and it showed on the pitch.
Defending champs Global remained spotless with four wins from four matches. Meanwhile Army was a shadow of the team that played Stallion tough in losing 2-1 last week, and are still in search of their first point after three games.
Global got a pair of goals from Jeffrey Christiaens, a strike from Ben Starosta, and late scores from substitutes Marvin Angeles and Matthew Uy.
But the finest goal of the evening belonged to Misagh Bahadoran. The Azkal nicknamed “Hollywood” received a 36th minute cross from Jerry Barbaso and scissor-kicked the leather past Army stopper Eduard Sacapano.
Just nine minutes earlier Barbaso had assisted Ben Starosta for his goal with a similar cross.
Four minutes after the half Christiaens picked up his first goal, outrunning the right flank of the Army defense and finishing clinically to make it 3-0. The Fil-Belgian Azkal made it 4-0 from the opposite side 25 minutes later.
Global coach Brian Reid relieved some of his starters late in favor of Uy, Wolf, Nino Ochotorena, and Marvin Angeles. The reserves delivered when Uy cleverly threaded a left-footed shot through the legs of a defender past Army reserve keeper Victorino Troyo for 5-0.
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Troyo was brought in for Sacapano five minutes earlier. The veteran fumbled Marvin Angeles' 91st minute turn-and-shot and helplessly watched the ball dribble into the net for 6-0.
Global high-pressed Army all throughout, and the servicemen were unable to cope, creating few chances.
Azkal Roel Gener was brought upfield to play as a striker but that wrinkle failed to pay dividends as Global's tall, physical defense held firm.
OTHER NOTES: Global's Marwin Angeles did not dress because he recently had four teeth extracted. He should be back in action soon.... At one point referee Rodney Leyble appeared to reject two game balls during a break in play because they were underinflated.... Alex Obiang, the Global striker who is not playing with the team at the moment because of an undisclosed dispute, was in the stands watching his old team.... Last Sunday Global Coach Reid was at the UAAP Men's Senior Finals between Ateneo and UP, apparently scouting with Global boss Dan Palami, who was wearing maroon in support of his alma mater.
Stallion 2, Kaya 1.
Stallion has ceased to become an all-Ilonggo club, but on Tuesday it was the team's Barotacnon captain and Santa Barbaranhun defender who got on the scoresheet.
Ruben Doctora's opportunistic strike off a corner two minutes after the halftime break opened the scoring, while substitute defender Bervic Italia doubled the advantage in the 70th. Janrick Soriano notched his second of the league with an 88th minute counterattack goal but it wasn't enough for Kaya to salvage a point.
Stallion have an immaculate record of twelve points from four games, and they trail Global only by goal difference.
For Kaya it was the first game after the shock resignation of coach Maor Rozen and they failed to bounce back from that setback.
It was an even first half with Kaya lucky not to give up a penalty when Dario Dakic felled Stallion Prince Mark Boley in the box.
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Just before the half Stallion's American signing Jeffrey Hohn unleashed a shot that struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced straight down near the line. Despite the howls of protest from Stallion fans, the goal was not given.
Two minutes into the second half Doctora collected a deflected corner kick mere yards away from the goal and blasted it past Kaya keeper Saba Sadeghi Garmaroudi to make it 1-0.
Two minutes later Doctora almost got his brace, but his long-range screamer was inches high of the crossbar.
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Just before the hour Boley was sacrificed for Bervic Italia and it turned out to be a great move by coach Ernest Nierras.
In the 70th minute Garmaroudi moved forward to deal with a high ball. Not sure that he was still in his box, the Iranian headed it forward, but straight at Italia's feet.
The former Azkal calmly hoisted it over the keeper's head and in off the far post for 2-0.
Ten minutes later Stallion Park Bo Bae got his second yellow after tangling with Antonio Ugarte, and he was dismissed. Kaya poured on the pressure and it was rewarded when Soriano, a late sub, stormed down the left flank and beat Stallion goalie Wilson Munoz off a counterattack.
Anton Del Rosario might have equalized in injury time but his header sailed wide.
“It was a good team effort” said Stallion Jason De Jong. “But we're still adjusting to our new 3-6-1 system.
“Binigay sa amin ni Lord ang magandang panalo na ito” offered Doctora. “Sa amin walang superstar, at sa training, focus ang lahat.”
“We fought but we got unlucky” assessed Kaya interim coach Justin Tolentino, who he said coached the game via committee with Kaya's only assistant, goalkeeper coach Melo Sabacan, and Chris Greatwich, who played the entire game.
OTHER NOTES: Former Kaya coach Juan Cutillas, who like Rozen also quit in the middle of the league last year, was seen chatting with his former players before the game. There was some joking about how he might be called back to the bench but the Spaniard poured cold water on that idea, saying that he is through with coaching and will only work with a team as a technical director.... Boley is an ex-Kaya player who was picked up by Stallion in the off-season from Pachanga.... Interestingly, former Azkal Anton Del Rosario, newly recovered from injury, got his first start of the season for Kaya, as captain at that, on the game after Rozen called it quits.... Quote of the evening: after the game Saba was discussing the second goal he allowed with his team mates and gave this explanation on why he was unable to slow his progress as he ran towards the edge of his area: “I don't have ABS brakes on my legs.”
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
