UFL: Army extends Air Force’s misery with 3-0 win
Army took a giant step away from automatic relegation while the league season of their fellow armed forces team continues to spiral out of control.
Goals from Meliton Pelayo, Roel Gener, and Boogie Margarse doomed the Airmen to a sixth loss in as many outings last Monday in Emperador Stadium.
Army is now at four points, level with Pasargad and Green Archers.
In this year's Division 1, the bottom club, currently Air Force, is kicked down to Division 2 while the second-to-the-last team dukes it out with the second placer of the second tier in a two-legged playoff with the winner either getting promoted or staying in the top flight.
Air Force started well, with early chances by Mark Anthony Fernandez, Vince Chester Braga, and Rodolfo Bebanco all expertly stopped by Army's fortysomething backup keeper, Victorino Troyo.
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The Davaoeno goalie played in place of Ed Sacapaño, who is already sequestered with the Azkals in preparation for the Challenge Cup qualifiers that start on Friday.
Air Force also started their reserve keeper, Amay Sobrevega. Regular custodian Ken Dolloso was suspended after getting red carded in Air Force's previous game with Global.
Meliton Pelayo opened the scoring in the 38th minute off a terrific pass from Luisito Brilliantes. Then just before the half an unmarked Roel Gener headed over a poorly-positioned Sobrevega after receiving a superb ball from Yok Becite.
Gener celebrated the 2-0 scoreline with a jaunty backflip.
Air Force stepped into gear early in the second half with a free kick from Ian Araneta that Troyo parried aside. Substitute Joebel Bermejo followed up with a shot but it went off the keeper's shinguards.
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Substitute Reymark Palmes had a chance in the 56th but once again Troyo anticipated and got his mitts on it.
Braga, Bulldog Albor, and Tapoy Martinez all had chances soon after but missed the frame of the goal.
Army exploited their opponents' three-man defense by scoring their third in the 77th minute off the boot of captain Boogie Margarse.
Air Force tried in vain to pick up a consolation goal but Araneta, Braga, and Ansing Gustilo all shot wide in the last ten minutes.
“Maganda ang pinakitang teamwork ngayon” said Margarse afterwards. “Ang confidence bumabalik. Nag-step up ang mga bata.”
This marks the fifth time in a row that Air Force has been unable to beat Army. They drew 2-2 twice in last year's league and then drew 1-1 in the Cup. The clubs met in the AFP-PNP Games final where the Army booters won 1-0.
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OTHER NOTES: The game was a veritable Barotac Nuevo reunion match. No less than sixteen of the twenty-two starters hailed from the Iloilo town. Another Barotacnon, Joebel Bermejo, came on for Air Force later on... Army made some very unusual substitutions on Monday. Barely 11 minutes into the game Relan Bretaña was yanked in favor of new Fil-Spanish signing Jake Valdez. But the youngster's time on the pitch was short-lived. By the half-hour mark he himself was relieved by Gil Villanueva. Margarse explained that Bretaña was starting to get hot under the collar and the coaching staff didn't want things to get out of hand.... Valdez is a Filipino raised in Spain who is a relative of an Army Colonel. He is the first overseas-raised Filipino civilian to play for Army since Fil-German Timo Schnell, who played for the club in the 2011 UFL Cup. Coincidentally, I ran into Schnell in the Wool Reyes benefit after the game. Schnell is a pilot with Zest Air and says he is frustrated by a lack of time to play Football... Air Force defenders Martin Doctora and Rodolfo Bebanco were both substituted due to injury, the latter thanks to a cynical tackle by Ronel Gener that earned him a yellow card.... Former Air Force players Tats Mercado and Harold Bayona were on hand to support their old club. Mercado is coaching youth teams in Nuvali.... A passel of Ilongo Stallions were also at the game. Balot Doctora, Jason Cordova, Bervic Italia and Shirmar Felongco took in the action as did Stallion official JR Robles and goalie coach Jesse Sazon.... There are two new goal frames beside the south goal in the Empy. UFL's Ritchie Gannaban says that the Azkals had them made, but they look significantly wider than regulation.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
