UFL Cup: Navy routs battling Blue Guards, Archers win
Recaps of Tuesday's games in the UFL Cup in Emperador Stadium.
Philippine Navy 10, Blue Guards 0
To give you an idea of how recreational a club Blue Guards FC is, one only needs to look at their crest. It looks suspiciously like the label on a popular libation. The motto on their crest: “expert drinkers since 1965.”
When I saw the Blue Guards before the game against Navy one of them beseeched me to not mention the score when I wrote about them, with a smile of course.
Well, too late for that, as the non-league side suffered another double-digit loss after their 17-0 hiding against Green Archers last Saturday.
How small a club is Blue Guards? They don't even play in the Weekend Futbol League, considered by many to be the de facto third tier below the UFL's second division.
They are also a highly experienced side. Very, very, experienced.
Blue Guards, based in Ateneo, fielded Dodie King (63), Luis Locsin (52), Gilbert Braganza (52), Noel Reyes (48), and 44-year old Tuvia Levy from Israel. Eric Ingles, 62 years old, didn't play on Tuesday but got a run-out in the loss to the Archers. According to player-coach Locsin, their average age is about 46.
Not on the Cup roster, though, is their oldest active player, Mindo Fajardo, who turned eighty last April and was featured in this blog last March.
Navy got goals from Richard Leyble, Arnaldo Montaña, Rachy Gunda, Arnold Cariño, Gary Villiran, and two apiece from Friday Okoro and Mohamed Diallo. Reyes was charged with an own goal for Navy in the 34th minute.
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Montaña's lovely long-range rocket into the top corner was the pick of Navy's strikes, as was Diallo's turn-and-strike past Guards keeper Samuel Letargo.
Navy, who were relegated from the top tier in the 2012 league, have beefed up their lineup with five Africans, who all started. They also have a new sponsor, Ilonggo businessman Danilo Yap.
Blue Guards didn't just park the bus for the first half, they removed the wheels of the bus and propped them up with cinder blocks. A dense and compact defense prevented an even worse rout. In the second half they became more adventurous, with a few attacks that didn't quite prosper.
Did they embarrass themselves? Absolutely not. 38-year old Jomar Borja was superb in the middle of the park, and Blue Guards' silver-haired players gallantly thwarted plenty of Navy attacks with sheer hard work. They had two shots on target in the second half, but both straight to the keeper. They are to be commended for even joining this competition considering their age.
Unlike many teams, Blue Guards also talk to each other incessantly, crucial in defending.
The win puts Navy tied with Loyola on three points in Group E behind the Green Archers who have played twice. Blue Guards remain without a point from two games and are stuck with a -27 goal difference.
Green Archers United Globe 4, Dolphins 0.
Green Archers produced a listless performance but nonetheless got the “w” against second-tier side Dolphins.
United went 2-0 ahead after just thirteen minutes when Gabe Olowoyeye and Jhanjhan Melliza both tapped in crosses from Chieffy Caligdong.
Caligdong made it 3-0 himself with a composed finish against Dolphins goalie Bernard Lelis.
Dolphins could have pulled one back in the 34th if not for a terrific save from backup keeper Ivan Fraire on a deflection from John Caballero's free kick.
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Jessy Martindale's brilliant long-range goal in the 55th minute was United's only other score.
The Archers were unable to approach the 16-0 hurt that Loyola put on the Dolphins last Saturday as several small errors and poor decisions kept them from scoring more.
Wingback Dodong Villareal was moved up to an attacking position by Archers coach Dolfo Alicante, and he shone, coming close to scoring on numerous occasions in the second half.
Archers are missing Dodz Pasinabo, Tating Pasilan, Arvin Gaspe, Jovanie Simpron, and Miguel Garcia. The five are on Futsal National Team duty in Thailand.
The win momentarily puts GAU atop Group E on six points, with Loyola having a game in hand.
UAAP Men's Football TV Games
The UAAP has released the schedule of televised games for the first round of play in Season 76 Men's Seniors Football. They will be broadcast live on Studio 23 from the FEU-FERN pitch in Diliman. All televised games will be at 3 pm.
Saturday, November 23: FEU vs NU
Friday, November 29, ADMU vs UST
Friday, December 6, UP vs ADMU
Friday, December 13, ADMU vs DLSU
Friday, December 20, DLSU vs FEU
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