UFL: Stallion, Green Archers settle for draw on opening day

MANILA, Philippines – Reigning league champion Stallion FC started their quest for a back-to-back title with a 2-2 draw against Green Archers United in the opening day of the 2014 United Football League season at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City on Saturday night, January 11.

Although the game didn’t end the way they had envisioned, it was a flattering scoreline for Ernie Nierras’ side as the Green Archers came out with all guns ablaze and came close several times to take home the full three points from this match.

Chieffy Caligdong started the festivities right away as he fooled a couple of Stallion defenders with his marvelous footwork to drill in the opening goal just seven minutes into the match.

It did not take too long for the new-look Stallion side to answer back, however, as Hamed Hajimhedi wonderfully struck in a 21^st minute penalty that swerved Patrick Deyto and sent the game to 1-apiece.

With the exodus of their marquee players from their 2012 championship squad – last season’s golden boot and golden ball winner Rufo Sanchez, hard-nosed defender Joaco Canas, and Azkals regular Jason de Jong – Stallion struggled in keeping the ball and pulling off plays as the upset-conscious GAU owned the midfield for most of the game.

Tating Pasilan and Caligdong gave Stallion’s backline a tough time as they terrorized both flanks throughout the first half. GAU’s midfield exploits were soon rewarded as a streaking Caligdong issued a fantastic cross that found an unmarked Gab Olowoyeye in front of the goal, making it 2-1 for the men in white, less than 15 minutes before the break.

With everybody already anticipating the halftime whistle, Stallion caught the Green Archers’ defense sleeping as Rafael Gomez found the net amidst a goal-mouth confusion in the 43^rd minute to end the half the way it started, with both teams level. 

The Archers keeper Deyto had a rough day between the sticks as he spilled the ball several times in the first 45 minutes, including the series of plays that led to Stallion’s equalizer.

GAU hit the ground running in the second half as they tried to score the go-ahead goal but Pedro Marenco, who replaced Wilson Munoz in front of the Stallion goal, did just enough to keep his team in the game.

With their frustration mounting, the Green Archers came close to taking the W as Reynald Villareal found himself one-on-one with the keeper, only to terribly fumble the shot that could have decided the game less than 10 minutes from time.

Pachanga-Diliman 2, Team Socceroo 0 

In the Division I curtain-raiser, former Azkals forward Nate Burkey scored a brace as Pachanga-Diliman FC nips UFL top flight debutant Team Socceroo, 2-nil.

PDFC could have ran away with a bigger win as they flexed their muscles against last season’s Division II champions, with Burkey almost scoring his hat trick deep into the second half.

Pachanga returns to Emperador Stadium on January 14, Tuesday, to take on Kaya FC while powerhouse clubs Global FC and Loyola square off in the second game. – Rappler.com