Philippine Army Move To Second, Team Socceroo’s Late Heroics Down Pasargad

30 January Results:
Team Socceroo 1-0 Pasargad
Philippine Army-GTI 2-0 Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr

Late goals were the trend in the UFL’s First Division on Thursday night at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill. Philippine Army-GTI grabbed second place with another impressive victory, while newly promoted Team Socceroo scored two minutes into added time to secure their first win in the nation’s top flight.

Having only narrowly avoided relegation last year, very little was expected of Army this season. Their infusion of Korean talent from General Trias International before the start of the League, however, has turned the side to a serious contender in the division. Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr learned this the hard way as they succumbed 2-0 to the Armed Forces side. The result puts Army just behind League leaders Loyola Meralco Sparks with seven points.

“They’re a very tough team,” said Pachanga head coach Noel Marcaida after the match. “Kung titingan mo yung Army noon and now, dati maraming butas, pero ngayon yung mga Koreans nag-fill in ng mga butas nila.”

John Cain opened the scoring in the eight minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to poke in a low cross. The goal gave Army the advantage, but shook Pachanga into action. The recent UFL Cup finalists went on to dominate the possession and create most of the opportunities, but couldn’t manage to find the equalizing goal. Three minutes from time, Dae Han Kang rose highest to send a looping header over Steve Yambou to seal the victory for Army.

“It’s not a problem,” said Army co-head coach Min Byung Jik regarding the perceived communication barrier between the Army players and the Korean additions. “Because we just play the sport, we can feel each other.”

Marcaida lamented his team’s lackluster finishing as Pachanga, who remain with six points, missed out on an opportunity to stay within touching distance of Loyola. “My players really performed well. We just couldn’t score the goals. We have to take our chances.”

Driven by their motto “Plenus Pectus” which means “full heart” in latin, last year’s Second Division conquerers put on a display that resonated with the club’s identity. “It feels great to get our first win,” said Socceroo assistant coach Rodrigo Davalos after the 1-0 win against Pasargad. “It was all or nothing. Plenus Pectus you know. We knew that if we stayed patient it would come.”

Aside from an excellent fingertip save by Rolando Cabaniero to deny Pasargad’s Jaham Taher a spectacular long range strike, the first half was a rather drab affair, with very little between the two sides. The restart saw Socceroo improve significantly, as they dominated possession and were clearly more threatening. Steve Minyem’s dismissal for a second yellow card with 30 minutes left didn’t do Pasargad any favors.

Coach Ayi Aryee’s side looked as if they had done enough to earn a point, but in the second of three added minutes, Lee Jeong Woo wriggled free at the edge of the area and unleashed an unstoppable shot to earn Socceroo their first win in the First Division. The victory lifted the team to seventh place, with four points.

1 February Games:
1:45pm – Dolphins United v Cimarron
4:00pm – Ceres-La Salle v Laos
6:15pm – Philippine Army-GTI v Global
8:30pm – Green Archers United Globe v Kaya FC

Source: http://www.ufl.ph