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UFL League Opening Day: Loyola, Global, Triumphant

Match reports of Tuesday's action that kicked off the 2013 UFL League from Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Loyola Meralco Sparks 4, Philippine Army 1.

The Sparks kicked off their League campaign with a heady performance against Army, both literally and figuratively.

Meralco overcame a shock early score from Army's Relan Bretana to score four unanswered goals, three of them headers, with Freddy Gonzalez, Jeong Byeong Yeol, and Chad Gould all nodding home.

Mark Hartmann scored a fourth from the penalty spot five minutes before halftime.

Both clubs were missing players to international duty with the Azkals. Loyola were without the Younghusbands and goalie Ref Cuaresma, while Army played sans Roel Gener, Boogie Margarse, and Ed Sacapano.

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The Armed Forces club opened the scoring in the 18th minute with Bretana's terrific turn-and shot from outside the penalty area that arced over Loyola's backup keeper, Mark Sorongan, who had drifted off his line.

But fourteen minutes later Loyola was level thanks to a brilliant Gonzalez header off a Mark Hartmann corner that powered past Army goalie Victorino Troyo.

To celebrate his first league goal with the club, the 34-year-old Gonzalez executed a perfect backflip.

Seven minutes later Army defender Wilson De La Cruz felled Jang Jo Won in the box and referee Ariel Montana pointed to the spot. Hartmann slammed the spot kick home for the go-ahead score.

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At halftime Loyola brought in Roxy Dorlas for PJ Fadrigalan and applied even more pressure, with Mark Hartmann having a goal disallowed for a questionable offside, then threading a great through ball to Gonzalez, who shot wide.

In the 59th Jeong headed in a third goal, and in the 70th Gould's glancing header beat Troyo for the fourth time.

Army finished with ten men thanks to an 85th minute straight red on Rodrigo Bettita after a rough challenge on Park Min Ho.

OTHER NOTES: Jang and Mark Hartmann both wore brand-new orange jerseys that were noticeably brighter than the older ones of their team mates. The officials almost prevented them from playing until common sense prevailed and they were allowed to carry on... Without Cuaresma and with Michael Menzi tied up with UAAP duties with FEU, the Sparks dressed Antonio De Murga, Carlie's brother, as the emergency keeper.... Army dressed Joshua Singson as their backup to Troyo but since his name is not on the team roster, he would have not been eligible to play... Troyo made numerous kamikaze forays outside of his area, most of them effective. General Coordinator Ritchie Gannaban told me that he has always played that way.... Spark Jake Morallo came on as a late substitute, his first action since he picked up an ankle injury.

ALSO READ: The story of Fil-Am players.

Global 2, PSG 0

The defending champs leaned on fresh faces to start their title retention bid with a solid win over PSG.

Just before halftime Nino Ochoterena struck off a narrow angle from a Misagh Bahadoran cross, and new signing Ben Starosta headed in the 76th to secure the points.

Apart from the goals, the main subplot of the even were the histrionics of PSG keeper Reza Ataei, who several times seemed to simulate unconvincingly after minimal contact.

He also juggled the ball on his knee at one point and feuded with Global striker Izzo Elhabbib. The Sudanese earned a yellow card after shoving Ataei on the chest. Elhabbib claims the Iranian goalie tried to pull him off the field when he got injured.

PSG were generally outplayed by an enterprising Global unit that was missing Jeffrey Christiaens, Patrick Reichelt, Matthew Uy, and the Angeles twins to Azkals duty, Alex Obiang to an unspecified team issue, and Denis Wolf to injury.

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Carlie De Murga, apparently still not 100%, was a late substitute.

Ochotorena, a native of Dipolog, where team mate Jerry Barbaso hails from, is a rare Philippine-born and raised goalscorer for Global.

Another Mindanao product, Aaron Altiche, made an influential return to Global, displaying fantastic work rate and giving PSG headaches with some useful runs and attempts.

Altiche was on the Global team that won the 2010-2011 UFL Cup, but with the emergence of new players, he had been sent to sister club Laos.

PSG had only a handful of chances, the best being Emmanuel Mbata's 32nd minute volley that grazed over the crossbar, and Hamid Hajimhedi's strike that Roland Dely Sadia stopped four minutes later.

“Overall I am pleased” noted Global coach Brian Reid afterwards. “Great credit to the boys. I see a lot of defensive teams in this league, but we wanted to attack.”

At times Global seemed to play with a 4-3-4 formation.

“Aaron was superb. I'll work to make him an even better player” added the Scottish coach.

OTHER NOTES: Starosta is a Brit with a Polish grandfather. That qualified him to play for Poland at the youth level. Starosta played for Sheffield United in England and also in several smaller teams in both England, Australia and Poland.... Paul Gardner is another new pick up for Global. He is a Scot who is a TV sports presenter, but is taking a break from that career to play in the Philippines. He was originally slated to suit up for Nomads but found his way to Global.... Global owner Dan Palami reassured me after the game that the Azkals will have new faces after the Challenge Cup.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.