UFL Thursday: Archers vanquish Airmen, Sparks dominate Pasargad
Match reports from UFL Div 1 action from Emperador Stadium.
Green Archers United Globe 4, Air Force 1.
One team kick-started its league campaign after a bad start. Another team saw its misery continue.
The Archers picked up their first points of their season with an emphatic victory, while Air Force's nightmare season extended as they absorbed their third loss.
Green Archers welcomed back Jonjon Melliza and he opened the scoring with a powerful one-hopper from outside the box that beat Air Force keeper Ken Dolloso.
Melliza just finished leading the UAAP with 22 goals and with his strike, proved that even in the top tier he's a force to be reckoned with.
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Just two minutes later United made it 2-0 when Chieffy Caligdong redirected a ball from Melliza with his head past Dolloso.
Air Force didn't pack it in, though. Nine minutes later off-season acquisition Ansing Gustilo collected a loose ball outside his box and unleased a cannon of a half-volley that zoomed into the top left corner, where Archers keeper Patrick Deyto had no chance to stop it.
Soon after starting defender Tommy Escoltero was replaced by Ronnie Aguisanda, and five minutes into the second half the youngster from Tuguegarao made his presence felt, exploiting some slovenly Air Force defending to power past Dolloso from the edge of the penalty box for 3-1.
In the 62nd Joebel Bermejo, placed up top instead of his usual back four role, nearly volleyed home but his shot struck the underbelly of the bar.
In the ensuing counterattack Tating Pasilan finished the scoring with a cool finish after receiving an inch-perfect pass from substitute Jovanie Simpron.
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Ian Araneta might have scored a second for Air Force but his 82nd minute header fluttered over the crossbar.
Just before time Air Force defender Neckson Leonora was shown his second yellow card for a shirt-pull on Pasilan and was sent off. He will miss the next match against Stallion.
Loyola Meralco Sparks 3, Pasargad 0.
Loyola stayed on course for a perfect season with a workmanlike result against Pasargad.
Essie Sedigh's team has now lost all four assignments and is a far cry from the cinderella team that finished second in the PFF Nationals.
PSG welcome defender Jay Torres back to the starting XI. Wearing a protective mask, the Palaweno had missed the first three league matches because of a broken nose sustained against Army in the PFF Nationals.
The Sparks were without Chad Gould on defense, who was sent off for two yellows in the last match.
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Mark Hartmann kicked things off with a hard-won goal in the seventeenth minute. After Jang Jo Won forced a save from PSG keeper Reza Ataei, Mark followed it up with another attempt that was similarly blocked by the Iranian.
The ball went straight back to Hartmann and the big midfielder eased it in for the goal on the second try.
Five minutes later Pasargad could have leveled but Jahambakhsh Taher's header was sensationally stopped by Spark keeper Ref Cuaresma, who stretched high for a fingertip save.
At the half-hour mark Meralco brought in a surprising sub: Phil Younghusband. The all-time leading Azkal striker allegedly didn't start because he missed a practice.
His brother James, suffering a back strain, watched from the bench in street clothes.
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Minutes later Ataei went well out of his area to head a ball clear and in doing so collided heavily with Freddy Gonzalez, who wore the captain's armband for Meralco.
Gonzalez needed to be substituted after the challenge and said after the game via Twitter that he would be getting an MRI on his knee.
Emmanuel Mbata of PSG had a chance before the half but his try clanged off the upright.
Two minutes into the second half Loyola were 2-0 up after a fine strike from Jang Jo Won from range. Ataei was unsighted on the play and the ball seems to have taken a slight deflection, which doomed PSG to a two-goal deficit.
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Five minutes before the hour an alert Mark Hartmann hoisted a quick diagonal pass to a streaking and unmarked Phil Younghusband on the right flank.
Younghusband collected the ball and from a narrow angle drilled it beyond Ataei to complete the scoring.
In a classy move, Phil raced to the sideline, dropped to his knees in front of Gonzalez and kissed his injured knee.
Next up for the Sparks is a March 5 date with Kaya.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
