Stunning Army Comeback Denies Green Archers First Win, Kaya Hit Socceroo For Seven

23 January Results:
Philippine Army 2-2 Green Archers United
Kaya FC 4-0 Team Socceroo HT

Green Archers United let three points slip once again as they registered their third straight draw in the 2014 League – this time to Philippine Army. Leading by two goals with four minutes left, and having dominated the match for large periods, the Archers looked a certainty to register their first win, but it all came crashing down – albeit with a bit of controversy.

Jovanie Simpron had opened the scoring just three minutes into the match, smashing home after being sent through for a one on one against Ed Sacapano. The perfect start allowed Green Archers to dictate proceedings for most of the match. Missed opportunites would come back to haunt Rodolfo Alicante’s side, though, as they spurned four chances before Paul Mendy tapped in their second from a corner kick in the second period.

Chieffy Caligdong was guilty of missing two golden chances, firing wide on both occasions with the goal gaping. Arnie Pasinabo and Park were equally guilty of wasting chances in the first half.

The lack of clincial finishing cost them dearly in the closing stages of the match. John Cain reduced the deficit with an impressive left-footed strike after being sent through on goal with a clever pass in the 86th minute. The momentum switched to Philippine Army after the goal, and their pressure paid off not long after.

Thomas Kang scored the equalizer from a corner kick, latching on to a knockdown with a low shot that was adjudged to be a goal. Archers keeper Patrick Deyto had gotten behind the strike, but only for the linesman to claim the ball had crossed the goal line.

The decision was unsurpisingly met with violent protests from the Green Archers, but they did little in preventing yet another draw for the club.

“Hindi ako mahilig mag comment sa referees (I don’t like to comment on referees), but you lose the game because of that decision,” said Green Archers head coach Rodolfo Alicante after the match. “We have to work on our finishing, pero nakikita natin kung gaano kahalaga ang referee sa game (but we see how important the referee is in a match).”

Army assistant coach Ricky Cain thought his team fully deserved the point they walked away with, but feels his team need a little more time to gel. “Yung goalkeeper nasa loob. Pagka collect niya nasa loob na yung bola (The goalkeeper was inside. When he collected the ball, it was already inside),” he said. “Nandun yung skills, nandun na lahat, kulang nalang yung pagkakaintindihan with the Koreans. (We have the skills, we have everything working already, the only thing missing is our chemistry with the Koreans).”

Thursday’s second match was far more cut and dry as Kaya went on a scoring spree against struggling Team Socceroo. It was the type of attacking performance that had not been seen from Kaya in many years.

Despite a promising start to the match, Team Socceroo found themselves on the wrong end of a 7-1 walloping. Emmanuel Mbata paced the winners with a first half hat-trick, with OJ Porteria adding a brace, and Chris Greatwich and Toshiyo Hosoe adding one each.

Socceroo’s lively start unraveled in the 19th minute when a penalty was awareded after a defender had handled the ball inside the box. Greatwich converted the resulting penalty, and Kaya never looked back.

Mbata got the final touch from a corner kick to register his first goal of the League. He got his second ten minutes later, smashing in from close range after some clever interplay on the right flank from Jovin Bedic and Eddie Mallari. A horrendous goal kick cost Socceroo their fourth, as Bedic gathered the ball before playing in Mbata to complete his hat-trick.

Hosoe marked his first start of the League with a headed goal five minutes after the restart. It was the OJ Porteria show after that, as the young striker used his pace and trickery to torment his defenders with two more goals for Kaya. Lee Jeong Woo scored the consolation for Socceroo.

“We showed we have goals in us,” head coach David Perkovic said after the match. “It took us a little while to get going. Once we got the first goal though, it was pretty steiaghtforward after that.”

25 January Matches:
13:45 – Cimarron FC v Laos FC
16:00 – Manila Jeepney v Agila FC
18:15 – Team Socceroo v Stallion FC
20:30 – Pasargad v Loyola Meralco Sparks

Source: http://www.ufl.ph