Air Force captures UFL Cup
Philippine Air Force Phoenix FC shut down the most prolific offensive team in the United Football League and came through with timely goals in each half to stun the Loyola Meralco Sparks FC, 2-0, and win the UFL Cup before a big crowd at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
In a battle between two squads with contrasting styles, the veteran smarts and teamwork of Air Force — combined with a little luck - trumped the youth and firepower of the star-studded Sparks.
The Sparks controlled possession in the early going and had a few good shots on goal. But the Air Force side gradually asserted themselves and began creating their own scoring chances, finally breaking through after Chieffy Caligdong built up a good run from the left flank and attracted the Loyola defense, before the ball found its way to Randy Bela-Ong. Ian Araneta gathered a pass from Bela-Ong and slotted home a one-touch strike in the 39th to give Air Force a 1-nil advantage.
Loyola Meralco appeared to have nailed the equalizer in the 52nd minute when James Younghusband's header off a Mark Hartmann corner kick found the back of the net, but the referee ordered the corner kick to be retaken because Hartmann kicked the ball outside of the corner radius.
Several times, that equalizing goal for Loyola came tantalizingly close, but their efforts were thwarted by excellent goal-keeping by Tats Mercado, and a couple of times by the crossbar. The closest came in the 83rd minute, after a Hartmann free kick went straight at Mercado, who uncharacteristically lost control of the ball. Alex Elnar swooped in and had a clear shot on goal with Mercado still sprawled on the ground, but incredibly, the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.
The ageless Yanti Barsales clinched the win for Air Force in the 90th by capitalizing on a poor clearance by Loyola and connecting on a lob that went over Loyola keeper Ref Cuaresma and into the net.
It was sweet redemption for Air Force, which lost last season's Cup final to Global FC by a score of 3-2. They did through good defense and goalkeeping, becoming the first team to hold Loyola scoreless in a game, no small feat considering the Sparks were the highest-scoring club in the Cup and boasted of an immensely talented 11 that included the Younghusbands and Hartmanns, not to mention one of the best keepers in Cuaresma.
Air Force will now set its sights on defending its league title early next year in hopes of scoring a season sweep of both championships.
In the battle for third place, deposed Cup champion Global FC salvaged some measure of pride by beating Kaya Cignal FC, 2-1. William Guerridon opened up scoring with a great volley at the top of the box in the 12th minute that was just out of reach of Kaya's keeper Saba Sadeghi Garmaroudi.
Kaya equalized in the 54th after Anton Del Rosario converted on a penalty kick following a foul by Mark Cortez on Lexton Muy during a scramble for the ball in front of the Global net. Izo Elhabbib produced the game-winner in the 75th with a brilliant strike after struggling with the possession just inside the box and eventually outmaneuvering two Kaya defenders.
Global thwarted Kaya's succeeding attempts to secure a second goal, with keeper Paolo Pascual coming up big several timely saves. With only four minutes left, Global coach Graeme MacKinnon delighted the crowd by sending Azkals team manager and Global reserve Dan Palami into the game for Yu Hoshide. Guerridon was sent off in the 89th minute after incurring two yellow cards, but it was too late for Kaya to capitalize.
Global's third-place finish was still pretty impressive considering the team almost failed to qualify for the last 16 and managed to sneak through via one of the wild card slots. Seeded a lowly 15th, Global ousted second seed Army, 3-nil, in the round of 16 and advanced to the last four with a 1-nil win over Pachanga FC.
