UFL: Late goal propels Team Socceroo over Pasargad

MANILA, Philippines – Jeong Mu Lee scored a brilliant goal deep in injury time to lead Team Socceroo to its first United Football League Division I win over Pasargad FC, 1-0 on Thursday, January 30, at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City. 

With both teams still winless in the 2014 Season, it was Team Socceroo who went home with the full three points as they needed all the 90 minutes and the three-minute stoppage time this afternoon to eke-out a hard-earned win over Pasargad.

The newly-promoted Team Socceroo flirted with opening the scoring in the first half as they dominated possession against the struggling PSG but the Iranian-laden squad’s defense held their ground to keep the scoresheet clean at halftime. 

Hideo Muraoka then threatened to score the go-ahead goal for Team Socceroo but Russell Pierson – who was brilliant in between the sticks for Pasargad – did well to stop the shot and give another lifeline to his squad.

With their backs against the wall, Pasargad was then reduced to ten men as Steve Minyem was slapped with two successive yellow cards in a span of five minutes.

Capitalizing on their extra man, Lee then came close to scoring in the 65^th when he pounced on a loose ball but Pierson once again came out on top after a desperate but well-timed punch on the ball. Lee once again fired a close one near the 90^th minute but his shot grazed just inches over the crossbar.

The South Korean’s perseverance was finally rewarded two minutes into stoppage time as he finally breached Pierson’s defense with his dazzling skills to score the lone goal of the game and give Team Socceroo its first win in the top flight.

By bagging the full three points, Team Socceroo overtakes Green Archers United and Pasargad in the table to improve their record to 1-1-3 for four points.

Pasargad, on the other hand, drops to the relegation zone with only a point to show this year from one draw and three defeats.

Team Socceroo will try to ride their momentum as they go up against GAU on Tuesday, February 4. PSG faces Kaya FC on Thursday, February 6.

Army GTI blanks Pachanga to bag second win

The Philippine Army-GTI FC notched their second win in four games as they shutout Pachanga-Diliman PLDT Home Fibr FC, 2-0, in the United Football League, Thursday, January 30, at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City. 

Dae Han Kang put on a brilliant performance as he scored the assurance goal in the 87^th minute and assisted on another one to thrust Army to seven points and take the second spot in the table.

The General Trias International-backed Army got to the driver seat early as Dae delivered a cross to John Cain who slotted in the 8^th minute goal to go 1-nil up over Pachanga.

Pachanga then pressed Army’s defense as they fired shot after shot on Ed Sacapano’s goal but the Azkals keeper was up to the task in his first start for Army this season. 

Reza Amirkhizan tried to pull off a shocker just after the break as he launched what could have been the equalizing goal but Sacapano once again stopped the shot to keep Pachanga at bay.

Andrew Santiago also tried his luck against Army’s defense and came close to scoring in the 57^th but his header barely scraped the crossbar. 

Dae wrapped up the night in the three minutes from time as he headed in Relan Bretana’s pass to seal the deal for Army-GTI. 

With the win, Army improves their record to 2-1-1 as Pachanga Diliman absorbs its second loss of the season and drops to 2-0-2 for six points. 

Philippine Army returns to action on Saturday, February 1, against powerhouse Global FC while Pachanga will wait for more than a week as they try to get back to the winning track next Thursday, February 6, also against Global. – Rappler.com