UFL: Goalfest Thursday anew as Kaya hold down Army-GTI, Global repeat versus Team Socceroo 

It was yet another goalfest in the UFL on Thursday night at the Emperador Stadium, with a 2-0 scoreline in the first game, between Kaya and Army-GTI and a crazy 9-0 in the second, courtesy of Global thrashing Team Socceroo.

Kaya versus Army-GTI

Newly-minted Azkal Kenshiro Daniels opened the game with a goal at the ninth minute. Daniels connected well with a pass from OJ Porteria and slotted the ball in.

And then the dry spell. There were numerous attempts for Kaya FC, from Daniels, Christian Ayew Egba, Anton del Rosario, and even a bicycle kick that went sky-ward from Joven Bedic, but none found their target.

There was a chance for Army-GTI FC to equalize, when Kaya keeper Manuel Saubach came out a little too early, fumbled the ball, but finally got it back before an Army player could get to it.

Army had turned back so many Kaya chances, it made their defense look almost world class. Ed Sacapano was also doing an amazing job between the sticks for Army.

A free kick for Army in added time came to nothing, as the first half ended with Kaya just a goal ahead.

Army continued their good defense, highlighted by back-to-back great saves by Sacapano. However, they were unable to capitalize on a free kick a couple of minutes later as Jeon Shin Seok sent it way over the bar.

At the 55th minute, substitute Janrick Soriano finally found Kaya's second goal. Soriano received the pass from Pablo Rodriguez Aracil. Pablo had also come on as a sub.

Later on, Army’s made goal was called offside, much to their frustration.

It was a rather disappointing game for Kaya, who could have scored more goals throughout the game, especially since it is highly possible that goal difference may play a role later on in the League.

Nonetheless, Kaya hold on to their third place spot in the standings with their win. They improve to 24 points on seven wins and three draws.

Army dropped more points and are now in danger of being overtaken by Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr FC. The former has 13 points on four wins and a draw, with Pachanga just two points behind with 11 on three wins and two draws, though with two games in hand.

Global romp to a win against Socceroo

At the beginning, it did not look like Team Socceroo FC was going to allow Global FC to just run over them. Socceroo started off the game with an attempt from Jeong Woo Lee right at the first minute.

But that turned out to be it for Socceroo. At the three-minute mark, Mark Hartmann drew first blood for Global. Six minutes later, it was Hartmann, again. Keeper Rolando Cabaniero jumped up but could not reach the ball. It found its way to Hartmann’s feet, and he just tapped it into the goal.

Minutes later, there was a bad collision in the air between Global’s Daisuke Sato and Socceroo’s Federico Krause. Krause was shown a yellow card but Sato was momentarily sidelined. Socceroo tried to capitalize while Global was a man down, but Roland Sadia ably made the save. Sato, formerly a youth player for Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, re-entered the game a couple of minutes later but still looked a little shaken.

At the 24th minute, Izo Elhabib made it 3-0 for Global. Izo received the ball with a chest trap, and maneuvered between two defenders, the keeper, and an incoming third defender before getting the goal.

In the second half, Global stayed sharp. Two minutes into the half, Hartmann got his hat-trick via a free kick from way beyond the box, sending the ball over and beyond the keeper and into the net.

Then it was the captain’s turn. At the 52nd minute, Jason de Jong sent the ball into the back of the net from the top of the box from a pass by Izo, making it 5-0.

Five minutes later, a free kick awarded to Socceroo at the edge of the box came to nothing.

Right at the 60th minute, Hartmann found his mark again. On the first touch, he volleyed a rocket of a shot off a Jeffrey Christiaens corner and made it 6-0 for his team.

Tragedy struck for the already down Socceroo, as substitute Stanley Ankrah gave up an own goal at the 76th minute. Ankrah had slid while trying to get to the ball and instead sent it right to the back of the net.

The ball saw the back of the net again for Global, but it was called offside by the referee. By all accounts, it should have counted, as Socceroo keeper Rolando Cabaniero had fumbled the ball and Christiaens got to it after that, surrounded by players from both teams.

But Global was not done yet. Substitute Napoleon Bustillo received the ball from Christiaens and sent the ball in, making it 8-0. In added time, Bustillo’s fellow substitute Milad Behgandom officially made it 9-0 for Global off a rebound of a de Jong attempt.

The 9-0 scoreline at full time is identical to that of the Global-Socceroo game in the first round, which was played on February 11, 2014.

Global coach Leigh Manson gave credit to Socceroo after the match, however, saying that it was a much closer game than the score line showed and compared to their first game.

The Scot was all praises for Mark Hartmann, who is currently the UFL leader in goals, having made 18. Phil Younghusband is second with 13 goals. However, “there is still room improvement,” said Manson.

Team Socceroo is still in eighth place in the standings, with nine points, five ahead of Pasargad FC and two behind Pachanga, who, however, have two games in hand.

Global is just a point away from League leaders Loyola Meralco Sparks, with 31 points on 10 wins and a draw. They are seven points clear of Kaya FC, who have 24 points in third place.

Manson, however, had this to say: “[It’s a] Little bit too early to call it a two-horse race. You can't take any team in the League lightly.” -RNB, GMA News