Global Fight Back Again For Second Win; Stallion Sunk By Late Goal

21 January Results:
Global FC 3-1 Pasargad FC
Pachanga Diliman 1-0 Stallion FC

Ten days after securing a point against Green Archers United, defending double champions Stallion almost engineered a similar comeback against Pachanga Diliman. The title holders thought they had found a way back right before the final whistle, but were denied a penalty when Mario Javier Clarino was brought down in the box by Reza Amirkhizan.

“We lost to [Jimmy] Liman today,” said head coach Ernie Nierras about the referee after the match. “He’s the most valuable player today for Pachanga. He had an assist and didn’t call the penalty. That’s a penalty and everybody knows it.”

Nate Burkey broke the deadlock in the 77th minute, firing in a speculative effort that inexplicably snuck past Stallion goalkeeper Pedro Marenco. The play had started with referee Liman finding himself in the way of a pass as the title holders were playing their way out of their half. With the ball dropping to Davide Cortina, the midfielder released Burkey for the decisive counter attack. The striker’s scuffed left-footed effort looked like a routine stop, but to the surprise of everyone at Emperador Stadium, the ball rolled into the back of the net.

“It was a lucky game, but at the end of the day, a win’s a win,” said Pachanga head coach Noel Marcaida. “Masaya (I’m happy), but not satisfied with the performance.” Although there wasn’t much between the two sides, Marcaida believed his side just about deserved the result. “I think [we deserved to win]. We created more chances.”

The 1-0 scoreline made it two wins in three matches for Pachanga, while Stallion remain with a solitary point in the standings.

Global once again had to come from being a goal down to register their second win of the League. Pasargad center back Jaham Taher’s thunderbolt from just outside the center circle broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. It was an incredible strike that nestled into the top corner, providing the perfect start for coach Ayi Nii Aryee’s side.

The lead lasted only eight minutes, though, as Ben Starosta volleyed in the equalizer after being left unmarked inside the box. Firing into the ground, the ball bounced before beating Russel Pierson in goal. It was a fortunate development for Global, who were once again way below par in the opening period.

“I thought we started off really sloppy,” said Starosta, who was deemed the standout performer of the game. “But in the second half we knew what we needed to do. We showed great character to come back.”

A reinvigorated Global put Pasargad to the sword after the break, with substitute Milad Behgandom breaking the deadlock in a goal mouth scramble, before Marvin Angeles fired in the insurance goal ten minutes from time.

Echoing Starosta’s sentiment, head coach Leigh Manson was far from impressed at how his side started the game. “Maybe we thought the game was our game. We thought we had a right to take the three points, but nobody has a right to three points.” Although the result means Global have registered back-to-back wins, Manson isn’t getting carried away. “We still have an awful lot to do. We can still get an awful lot better.”

League action continues on Thursday at the Emperador Stadium.

23 January Matches:
5:15pm – Philippine Army v Green Archers United
7:30pm – Team Socceroo v Kaya FC

Source: http://www.ufl.ph