UFL: Late goals propel Army to 2-2 draw with GAU

MANILA, Philippines – It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

Green Archers United learned that the hard way as they saw their two-goal lead vanish in the dying moments of the game when Army-GTI worked their way into salvaging a 2-2 draw in the United Football League, Wednesday, January 23, at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City. 

Playing catch-up for most of the game, Philippine Army had their resilience pay off as John Cain and Dae Han Kang scored a goal each in the last five minutes of regulation to stay on the upper half of the table early in the 2014 Season.

Looking for its first win of the season, Jovanie Simpron put his team on top just 3 minutes from kick-off as he banked in a left-footer on a counter in a dream start for the Green Archers squad.

Spurred by Simpron’s early goal, Chieffy Caligdong tried to double his side’s lead as he bullied the opposition’s backline but Army had an answer to that in the form of their Korean reinforcements who were able to pull out tricks of their own.

Caligdong’s hard work was rewarded in the 65^th minute as he found Ivorian midfielder Robert Lopez Mendy on attack, to make it a 2-nil lead for the Green Archers.

Down by two goals, Army, however, refused to give up without a fight as they rained Patrick Deyto’s goal in the final ten minutes until Cain found the net four minutes from time to reduce their deficit to just a goal.

Kang then completed Army’s comeback efforts as he struck in the equalizer in the 89^th to level the scoring at 2-apiece with only two minutes of stoppage time to go.

GAU’s night turned from bad to worse as Patrick Deyto collected a yellow, and defender Lawrence Ikegwuruka was slapped a red card in the closing minutes of the game.

With the win, Army stays in fourth place with four points from a win and a draw in three games while GAU settles for their third draw in their three games so far this season.

The Green Archers return to action against Loyola Meralco next Tuesday, January 28 while Army GTI faces Global on February 1. – Rappler.com