UFL: PSG hammer Nomads to consolidate mid-table status in nine goal thriller

In a game that will go a long way in deciding which of these two teams will finish above the other in the league, PSG dominated the Nomads 7-2 at the Emperador Stadium, Thursday.

Going ahead in the fifth minute, Michael Nelson’s shot was fumbled by keeper Jay Avellana, making his debut for Nomads in goal. The game settled until Emmanuel Mbata was played through and rounded Avellana to make it 2-0 at the 42nd minute.

PSG made it 3-0 two minutes later in a copy of the first goal, Hamed Hajimhedi this time played through in a similar position, rounding Avellana, and clipping the ball into the top of the net.

After halftime the Nomads managed to get a goal back through Luis Infante’s deflected effort in the 60th minute, but only a minute later, PSG went up 4-1, Beliga Blanchard drifting beyond two men to smash beyond Avellana. Soon after it was five, with Jalsor Soriano spotting the nervy goalkeeper off his line and chipping him from 25-yards out.

In the 77th minute, Mbata was sent through on the left again and slotted in his second of the game before Padilla made a howler, Mickael Cardoso’s shot dipping between his leg and into the goal. Kalilou Toure wrapped up the win shooting into an open goal when Avellana had narrowed the angle on substitute Promise Jolomi in the 93rd minute, to make the final score 7-2.

First half

Early on in the game it was a tale of two keepers, as Jay Avellana replaced Nomads regular Friso Klok in goal, while Ricardo Padilla, the former Homeless World Cup player and normally a defender, filled in between the sticks for Reza Ataei for PSG.

PSG took the lead early as Michael Nelson fired in only the fifth minute to beat Jay Avellana in goal. The effort,however, could have been saved and Avellana will be disappointed with not getting more on it.

At the other end, in the eighth minute, Ricardo Padilla was at hand to dive to his right and make a fingertip save to deny Steve Borrill’s long-range effort. Two minutes later at the other end, Emmanuel Mbata had a golden opportunity as he was slipped in on goal and rounded Avellana, but only found the side netting as his momentum took him too wide.

As the game settled down there were no clear-cut chances, before Jaham Taher headed off target in the 30th minute, climbing well to get to the cross and missing by only inches. PSG were looking the most likely to score next as the Nomads lacked their usual physical presence. They seemed to be transitioning to a more patient passing based game from the back.

In the 38th minute PSG broke through and forced Jay Avellana into a good save one-on-one, with the Nomads defense covering on the line to clear away the second chance. Soon afterwards PSG did make it two as Belinga Blanchard played in Emmanuel Mbata in the 42nd minute, and he slotted comfortably beyond Avellana, slow to come off his line.

The Nomads’ defense were left claiming for offside and only a minute later, it was almost 3-0 as PSG won possession quickly from the restart and Mbata cracked the ball against the post with a powerful effort from inside the area. Nomads looked unable to cope with PSG and another minute later it was three in a carbon copy of the second goal. Another fantastic through ball sent Hamed Hajimhedi forward, and he rounded Avellana to tuck the ball into the top corner in the 44th minute.

Once again, the Nomads appealed for offside, but replays were inconclusive as to whether or not the strikers were indeed level for the two goals.

Second half

At the break, Mickael Cardoso and Nicolas Hacker came on as the Nomads looked to change things around. However, the first major action of the half came when Cardoso and PSG’s Jaham Taher clashed when going for the ball, with Taher taking a serious knock and getting stretchered off.

In the 52nd minute Younousse Yaogo was sent through, but Avellana was quicker off his line and blocked the effort. Taher then returned to the pitch, but as he did, a poor pass was intercepted by Nomads and after a good lay off, they shot just wide.

Next, Reza Amirkhizan fed the ball out wide for Hajimhedi, whose first touch cross for Yaogo was a great one, but Yaogo hit over from just outside the six-yard box. But a minute later, in the 60th, Nomads pulled a goal back. Luis Infante jumped in the air with the injured Taher, winning it too easily, before shooting on the turn. His shot took a deflection off Taher, looping over Padilla, to put the Nomads back in the match.

In a stunning reversal though, a minute later they were out of it, as Blanchard restored PSG’s three-goal lead in the 61st and put an end to Nomads’ resistance as he dispossessed Infante, breezed beyond two defenders and fired into the corner of the goal.

Phil Connolly came on for Attuquaye Clottey in the 64th minute and almost made an immediate impact as he met Jose Lozano’s brilliant cross with his head, but it was too straight and Padilla held well. But again as the Nomads looked like they were getting back into the game they instead collapsed. This time, Jalsor Soriano spotted Avellana off his line and lofted the ball over the keeper from 25-yards out in the 67th minute.

Come the 77th minute, Mbata added another goal, sent through on the left, and with Avellana again slow off his line, he clipped the ball beyond the keeper to net his eleventh score of the season. In the 83rd minute Avellana made a fantastic save though, as Amirkhizan drove the ball at goal from a 25-yard free-kick, only for the keeper to get his fingertips on the attempt. Soon after, Padilla was at fault as Nomads pulled a second goal back, Cardoso shooting straight at the PSG keeper from distance, with the ball dipping between Padilla’s legs and in.

That wasn’t the end of it, though, as PSG confirmed their biggest win of the season as substitute Promise Jolomi was blocked by Avellana and laid the ball off to Kalilou Toure to smash into the net beyond a Nomads defender on the line.

What’s next for the teams

This is the Nomads’ ninth game in a row without a win and they will have to turn things around quickly if they want to avoid a slump for the rest of the season. Their next game though, will be against Loyola on May 21 and a 10th game without a win would see them start to look over their shoulders as they are not totally safe from relegation yet.

PSG meanwhile ended a four-match losing streak with a confident victory here. They will be against the Green Archers on May 25 and have the chance to move away from the bottom four clubs with another win.  - CLP, GMA News