Cañedo scores hat trick in 7 minutes, PSG and Kaya draw, plus Challenge Cup notes
Pachanga-Diliman 5, Philippine Air Force 1.
Boyet Cañedo etched his name into UFL lore with a torrid late-game passage of play that left fans at the Emperador stadium slack-jawed last Thursday.
The San Carlos City midfielder earned a hat trick by striking in the 88th, 90th and 94th minute to break open a close game and aggravate Air Force's nightmare season even further.
PD gets its third win of the year while the Airmen are still winless and point-less.
“Hindi ko in-expect ito” said Cañedo. “Pero part ito ng system. Iniba namin ang system sa system ng dating Pachanga. Hindi counterattack, pero build up from the back.”
Pachanga Diliman opened the scoring at the half-hour mark with a goal from the right flank from Ousseynou Diop after he evaded Martin Doctora.
ALSO READ: AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers: Thoughts on Brunei's shocking withdrawal.
Three minutes later Ian Araneta picked up a brilliant through-ball from Joebel Bermejo, outran Yves Ashime, and finished past PD keeper Kim Versales' right for an equalizer.
Meanwhile Ken Dolloso, Air Force's goalie, blanked newcomer Marcus Lopez and Cañedo.
Just before the half time whistle Doctora and Lopez were both yellow carded after the Air Force defender clotheslined the Guamanian and the PD striker retaliated.
Moments later Lopez fouled another airman, earning a second yellow card an an expulsion.
“These ___ refs are scared of the armed forces” said PD owner John Gutierrez from the sideline.
In the second half Air Force came to life, winning the midfield battle much of the time. Mark Anthony Fernandez nearly headed a go-ahead score in the 53rd off a lovely cross from Araneta but it sailed over the bar.
ALSO READ: Pia Cayetano launches online appeal vs New UAAP rule.
Four minutes later a midfield giveaway by Ansing Gustilo was exploited by PD and moments later Alireza Jamali, off Cañedo's assist, beat Dolloso for 2-1.
The Airmen nearly leveled in the 65th when Vince Braga's powerful header forced a superb reflex save from Versales.
But with the Air Force defense stretched, Cañedo turned yet another giveaway into a goal by expertly dancing around two defenders and blasting into the net with his left foot.
Two minutes later on a counterattack after Reymark Palmes' header was saved, Cañedo gathered a Jamali pass and made it 4-1.
Incredibly, in the 94th, he struck again against a disheartened Air Force defense to finish the scoring.
“We were lucky in the second half” said PD coach Bob Salvacion. “Air Force is still a strong team.” Salvacion also disputed the sending-off of Lopez.
OTHER NOTES: I spoke with the suspended PD striker Ariel Zerrudo, who was sent off for confronting the assistant ref during the game against Stallion. The former Azkal and U.P. star said that the assistant ref called Yves Ashime “gago” but that the abuse was not actually racist in nature.... Air Force left the field immediately after the game and did not do much in terms of warm-down exercises.... Ernest Appiah of PD said after the game that he was struck in the face once each by Airmen Bulldog Albor and Ansing Gustilo, and that Dolloso, who he says is a friend, slapped him, perhaps inadvertently. “They play very rough” said the Ghanaian of his opponents.
Kaya 2, PSG 2
With four points in two games, Pasargad has suddenly picked up some momentum.
Meanwhile its another draw for a mishmash Kaya team that was missing many key players due to injury and suspension.
Emmanual Mbata struck twice for Pasargad while Anton Del Rosario scored from the penalty spot and Nate Burkey also added a goal.
Kaya were without OJ Porteria and Chris Greatwich, who are quartered with the Azkals.
With Dario Dakic suspended and Junior Munoz hurt, coach Dave Perkovic went with new American signing Logan McDaniel at left back, Masa Omura and Kross Ubiam in the central defense, and Del Rosario at right back. Eddie Mallari was shifted to holding midfield.
ALSO READ: UFL: Shorthanded Global win battle of undefeateds, Sparks smother Archers.
Tuason set up Pasargad's first goal with a clever headed pass to Mbata, who delivered a quality finish past Kaya netminder Saba Sadeghi Garmaroudi from a very tight angle.
Nine minutes later Kaya's makeshift defense was given another blow when Omura was subbed after complaining that he had lost his peripheral vision. He was soon taken to the hospital. Apparently the Japanese veteran experienced this years ago.
Nico Bolzicco was sent in to replace him.
Just before the half PSG's keeper Reza Ataei clumsily barged into Nate Burkey as he ventured for a loose ball in the box and referee Jimmy Liman pointed at the spot.
Moments later Del Rosario tucked the ball into the lower right hand corner for the equalizer. The former Azkal then ran to the TV camera and bared his undershirt with a message that read “we love you Tito Ed.”
Ed Quimson, well-known chef and uncle to Del Rosario, recently passed away at the age of 48.
ALSO READ: UFL: Army extends Air Force's misery with 3-0 win.
Liman did not look kindly upon the act and gave Del Rosario a yellow card. Usually yellow cards are only dished out when a player completely removes his shirt, which Del Rosario did not do.
Three minutes into the second half Kaya took the lead when nate Burkey side-stepped around PSG's Emil Muncada and drove the ball past Ataei for 2-1.
The lead lasted until the 79th, when Emmanuel Mbata nodded home from close-range off a great ball from Belinga Blanchard.
“I give thanks to my teammates for helping me score” said Mbata afterwards. The Nigerian revealed that the second goal was his first-ever professional header goal.
When asked if it felt weird to play against his former mates, longtime Kaya player Tuason replied “It wasn't really weird. In fact I was driven to play better against them.”
Perkovic said “we never really got it going. In small patches we played okay. But the team showed good character. I felt we were hard done by the refereeing.”
The draw puts Kaya at nine points, twelve adrift of league-leading Global. Pasargad now has five points and is alone at seventh place.
OTHER NOTES: The Soriano brothers of Talisay, Negros Occidental were represented on both sides of the pitch. Janrick started for Kaya and Jalsor played the entire match in the back four for Pasargad. A third brother, Jalor, is in Air Force and is undergoing schooling, which prevents him from playing.... After coming on, Nico Bolzicco was seen rushing to the sideline, apparently removing something from around his neck, and handing it to the Kaya staff.... Perkovic played some of his new players on Thursday. Alex Obiang, formerly of Global, Ateneo's Carlo Liay, and Christian Ayew all got a chance on the pitch.... Both Perkovic and Kaya manager Justin Tolentino were clad in blue slacks and white button-down shirts for the game. Perkovic claimed it was not intentional and merely a coincidence.....The Ultras Kaya surprised quite a few after the game by offering a rendition of “Do You Hear The People Sing” from Les Miserables.
Challenge Cup tidbits
Quotes from the Challenge Cup Qualifiers press con from Thursday. It has since been reported that Brunei's games will be considered defaults, and Turkmenistan, the Philippines, and Cambodia have been awarded 3-0 default wins.
“I find it difficult to understand why a serious Footballing nation (Brunei) can pull out one day before the tournament.” - Michael Weiss.
“He's got quality. He just played against Barca so he is in a team with good pedigree. It helps that we have Carli, Juani and Angel to help with the language barrier. It's good for the team that we have him. It pushes all of us to work harder to get the starting jersey.” - Rob Gier on Javier Patiño.
“It's not a problem if he can't speak English or Tagalog. In Football we don't need that.” - Cheiffy Caligdong on Javi Patiño.
“We need the right place to play Football. We are still behind in grass pitches. What they (the Azkals) have been offered here is below standard. We need the right environment for this fantastic group of players.” - Michael Weiss. (The team trained in Umak on Wednesday.)
“If I were to hazard a guess, he would serve his suspension against Cambodia.” - PFF Sec Gen Ed Gastanes, replying to a question about Neil Etheridge's suspension.
“Eighty percent of our players have an average age of 23 or below. Our big target is the SEA Games and another tournament in October.” - Cambodia coach Prak Sovannara. The SEA Games Football competition is an under-23 affair.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
