UFL Wrap: Goal count soars in first week of FA League Cup

 

The UFL saw 10 matches in four game days last week, with an insane total of 49 goals. Here's the wrap:

 

Tuesday

 

September 23 saw 4 matches played, two of which were at Emperador Stadium while the other two were at Rizal Memorial Stadium (RMS). At RMS, Stallion FC played Ceres-La Salle FC, bowing to the Bacolod-based squad, 2-4. the match was even at 1-1 entering the second half, but Patrick Reichelt put in 2 goals within a 7-minute period.

Stallion’s Angel Munoz Carrascosa was able to pull one back just three minutes after Reichelt’s second goal, but Juani Guirado effectively put the game away for Ceres La-Salle with a goal at the 70th minute. 

 

In the next match, Manila Jeepney FC faced Pachanga Diliman FC. A highly physical match, teams were granted a penalty each, which, for Jeepney, was what tied the game at the 57th minute. Pachanga’s Jinggoy Valmayor knocked in his second goal for the night at the 71st minute and ensured his team’s hard-fought victory.

 

At the Emperador Stadium, the Loyola Meralco Sparks mustered a 3-1 win versus feisty Army FC. Army keeper Seung Seok Seo had a busy night, swatting away numerous Sparks tries. On another note, it was perhaps Army’s first match in a long time to be assessed a lone yellow card.

 

In the second match, Global FC pounced on hapless Dolphins United FC. Global, in their new striped blue kits, blanked the Dolphins 12-0.

The game had 3 players earning hat-tricks. Mark Hartmann (46’ 62’ 64’) and new signee Edgar Briones (47’, 75’, 85’) scored theirs in the second half. Izo Elhabib earned a hat-trick plus one all in the first half (8’ ,17’, 23’, 41’). Milad Beghandom opened scoring in the first minute of the match, while veteran Yu Hoshide scored Global’s 10th goal in the 81st minute. Dolphins United are one of the lower-ranked teams in the Second Division.

 

Thursday

 

September 25th’s matches were both played at the RMS. Kaya FC overpowered Forza FC, 5-0. Kaya’s Louis Clark continued his hot streak, earning a hat-trick again (35’, 49’, 65’).

 

The second match saw Second Division’s Manila All-Japan face First Division’s Team Socceroo. It looked like all-Japan would take the game after Jenno Aquino’s goal in the 61st minute was left unanswered. However, at the last minute of added time, Soccerroo’s Rogie Maglinas equalised. The 18-year-old broke All-Japan’s hearts as they drew with Soceroo, 1-1.

 

Saturday

 

RMS saw all the weekend matches, and September 27’s first match was Global versus Laos FC. Laos, often referred to as just Global’s Second Division team, has already toppled one First Division team. This match was definitely a tough one for the reigning League champions. Global were missing the services of Mark Hartmann, Raul Martinez, and Curt Dizon.

Global, who looked like they also sat out some of their youth players, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the whole game. Izo Elhabib, who was playing versus a team captained by older brother Bads Elhabib, missed a penalty at the 55th minute. It took Global, and new arrival Hikaru Minegeshi, until the 83rd minute to finally put the game away.

 

The second match paled in comparison to the first match’s intensity, but it saw Forza take a match against Dolphins, 4-1.

 

The last match of the day pitted Kaya against struggling Socceroo. Kaya needed just the first half to win the match. Clark once again showed up huge for Kaya, scoring yet another hat-trick (7’, 13’, 42’), his third in as many matches. Chris Greatwich scored at the 17th minute.

The second half was testy, as Socceroo tried to at least pull one back, but Kaya were too physical a team for them to match up to.

 

Clark was quick to credit his teammates with great service and passing, something that coach Adam Reekie echoed. “He gets paid to score goals, and he’s scoring them at the moment, hopefully that keeps going,” Reekie said jokingly. “There’s always lots of things to work on,” said the coach on a more serious note, “we have a lot of things we need to tweak and improve offensively and defensively”.

 

Sunday

 

The lone Sunday match was the Sparks versus Green Archers United FC. The Sparks, still missing the services of Phil Younghusband due to a calf injury, dominated the match from the onset. Team captain James Younghusband, scored a brace while substitute Graham Caygill scored at the 86th minute, making the final tally 3-nil for the Sparks.

 

Coach Simon McMenemy looked pleased after he victory. “It was the discipline today,” when asked about what made him happy about the match, “it’s always difficult playing at 2 in the afternoon, playing in such heat, but we kept the ball.”

McMenemy called Phil Younghusband’s return to the team “a little bonus”, saying that he looks forward to Phil returning in the next couple of days.

 

Tuesday’s UFL matches will again be played in both RMS and Emperador Stadium. Two matches will  be played at the RMS at 5:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., while one match will be played at the Emperador Stadium at 8:15 p.m. Two of last Sunday’s matches and one scheduled for Tuesday were moved to accommodate the PFF National Club Championship’s elimination games. — JST, GMA News