UFL Cup: Loyola, Pachanga Diliman forge final showdown
Recaps of the UFL Cup semifinals held on Tuesday at Emperador stadium.
Loyola Meralco Sparks 2, Green Archers United Globe 0.
Loyola has found another free-kick wizard, and he is none other than Phil Younghusband.
“I don't usually take the free kicks but I felt good going into the game so I asked to take the first one” he said after the match.
“Since that one went in,” continued Phil, "I guess I had to take the next one too.”
Phil's two free kick goals were enough to dispose a Green Archers side that just couldn't click on offense. It's the third straight Cup semifinal loss for United, who fell at this hurdle at last year's competition and again earlier in the year at the Smart National Club Championship.
But GAU very nearly scored first. After Loyola custodian Baba Sampana flapped at a high ball, the leather fell to GAU's Jesse Martindale, who found the net with an overhead strike.
Archer celebrations were halted when the assistant referee called it offside, and according to match commentator Cedelf Tupas, he was correct in making the call.
Then in the fifteenth minute Loyola got a straight-on free kick. Lee Joo Young faked a shot, and with Deyto somewhat biting on the fake, Phil was able to power the ball into the low left corner for 1-0.
Just before halftime Spark Matt Hartmann saw yellow for tripping United captain Tating Pasilan. It was a costly caution for Hartmann, who picked up a previous yellow going into the game and thus misses Thursday's final on accumulated yellow cards.
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Five minutes after the second half restart Chieffy Caligdong could have leveled but he slipped trying to convert a Gabe Olowoyeye center and skied it over the bar.
Then in the 58th minute, off a Jake Hugo foul, Phil Younghusband was gifted another chance to execute a free kick and he didn't disappoint, finding the top left corner for 2-0.
Six minutes later Caligdong was dropped in the box and a penalty was awarded to the Archers. Caligdong pushed his attempt wide left but was awarded a do-over because of Loyola encroachment into the box before the kick.
But the Azkal captain was off on his second try as well, with Sampana reading the kick to the same side and parrying to safety.
Archer coach Dolfo Alicante revealed afterwards that he wanted Martindale to take the second attempt but his request didn't reach the players.
Deyto prevented a 3-0 score with a terrific close-quarter save on Lee, and United's last chance to pull back a score, a 90th minute free kick from Martindale, was tipped over by Sampana.
“I want to give credit to the back four and Baba for a great job” said Younghusband. Loyola still hasn't conceded a goal in this competition.
When asked about the physicality of the game, Phil said “That's Football. It's a contact sport. The ref should stamp his authority early. If he lets a few things slip then things can get out of hand.”
Pachanga Diliman 3, Philippine Air Force 2, AET.
For the third straight game, Air Force scored a goal in extra time. But for the second straight match, Reza Amirkhizan produced a world-class piece of free kick sorcery to propel Pachanga Diliman into the final.
In extra time, the game tied 2-2 and with a penalty shootout just eight minutes away, Pachanga Diliman was gifted a free kick from an acute angle. Amirkhizan unspooled a curling deadball missile that beat the wall and found the innermost part of the top right corner for the winning goal, beyond Air Force keeper Ken Dolloso's gloves. See the video of it here.
“It was better than his goal (also a free kick) against Stallion (in the quarterfinal)” said PD coach Noel Marcaida. “The far post was a bigger target and he took it near post.”
It was a fitting and dramatic end to an enthralling semifinal contest filled with twists and turns, dives and skirmishes, spotty refereeing at times, and some lovely goals as well.
Air Force got on the board first in the 25th minute when Ian Araneta, beat PD keeper Kim Versales with a picture-perfect header off a Joel Ballo-allo free kick.
But four minutes later, Air Force centerback Neckson Leonora fouled Ousseynou Diop at the edge of the penalty box, and referee Rodney Leyble pointed to the spot.
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Nate Burkey tucked the ensuing penalty kick into the low left corner for 1-1.
In the second half Amirkhizan almost connected with two free kick tries around the hour mark, but one was palmed clear by Dolloso and another deflected off the crossbar.
Twelve minutes before the end of regulation Araneta departed with a bad hamstring, to be replaced by Vince Braga.
In the last ten minutes before the extension Amirkhizan was on target on two more free kicks, both denied by Dolloso.
Just before the whistle airman Bulldog Albor went down in the box but PAF's calls for a penalty were ignored. Then Herbert Bayona and PD sub Dingdong Fornea were both presented yellows after clashing.
With the match knotted at 1-1 after ninety minutes the game proceeded into extra time, the third extension in a row for Air Force. It started off beautifully for Pachanga when in the 91st minute Ariel Zerrudo blasted a left footer past Dolloso for 2-1.
But just four minutes later Air Force leveled again when their 43-year-old captain, Jez Tonog, hammered home from close range.
Early in the second extension the game saw its most bizarre moment. With the ball at Dolloso's feet and Burkey near him, Dolloso faked picking the ball up and Burkey seemed to fake along with him. Then Burkey seemed to lunge at Dolloso as the keeper grabbed the ball and both crumpled to the ground, along with Ballo-allo, who appeared to make contact with Burkey.
Leyble's verdict: a second yellow resulting in a red for Burkey, and a red for Ballo-allo. Burkey is now suspended for Thursday's final.
Five minutes later, Amirkhizan's free kick was in the net, and Air Force's fairy-tale Cup run was over. A chance to book a title date with Loyola, which would have been a rematch of the 2011 final, was not to be.
For Marcaida, Amirkhizan was his only choice for Man of the Match. “He is really world-class” said the coach.
Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
