UFL: Nomads draw versus Loyola, shade Sparks' title hopes

Knowing only a win would keep them in the hunt for the UFL title, the Loyola Meralco Sparks were shocked by the Nomads, as their foes forced a 2-2 draw at the Emperador Stadium, Tuesday.

Without a win in nine games before this match, most pre-game predictions centered on how many Loyola would win by, until the Nomads took the lead when Mico Mabanag rounded Mark Sorongon, in goal for the Sparks, and tapped in a sublime through ball by Phil Connolly in the 28th minute.

Loyola equalized right before halftime though. After bringing Mark Hartmann on, the substitute found James Younghusband in space, who crossed in for his brother Phil. The Loyola and Azkals top-scorer then headed down for Jeong Byeong Yeol to tap into the open goal for a 1-1 score.

Mark Hartmann then volleyed Loyola in front, side-footing the ball into the goal as Loyola came flying out of the blocks in the second half. However, their foes equalized immediately, as Phil Connolly flicked on a throw-in for Bafio Magassa, to hook the ball  into the goal in the 48th minute. With no more scores afterwards, the result was even at 2-all.

First half

With one eye on the Singapore Cup, where Loyola will be up against Harimau Muda B, effectively Malaysia’s Under-19 team, the Sparks shuffled their line-up a bit with Mark Sorongon replacing Ref Cuaresma in goal. Simon Greatwich moved up to midfield in place of Mark Hartmann, and Angelo Verseye was given a starting spot on the right.

Despite the score in the last game between the two reading 5-0 in favor of Loyola, Nomads had the first opportunity with a shot straight into Sorongon’s gloves as they controlled the early possession. Loyola countered and offered a good chance to Phil Younghusband when Roxy Dorlas found James Younghusband well and he crossed for his brother, who volleyed over.

It was the Nomads who came the closest to scoring in the early skirmishes as Phil Connolly got to a corner first, beating Chad Gould in the air to head against the bar in the 12th minute. The team started the game in a much better fashion than their last outing, where they were hammered by PSG 7-2.

In the 28th minute Phil Connolly, played up front, jinxed past Chad Gould, and fed Mico Mabanag with a fantastic through pass to put the underdogs ahead. Though Mabanag still had much to do, his first touch was perfect, taking it just out of the path of Sorongon, before his second stabbed it into the net with precision for a well-deserved 1-0 tally.

Loyola almost equalized just two minutes later though as Phil Younghusband chipped in a free-kick which was headed just wide from a deflection. Friso Klok, returning in goal after becoming a father, kept out Jeong Byeong Yeol as Verseye’s free-kick was deflected into the Korean’s path, but Klok got down low to keep out the attempt at goal.

On the counterattack, Nomads spread Loyola as they nicked the ball and fed Phil Connolly behind the defense. Connolly was pushed too wide and cut the ball into the center for Fidelis Nnabuife, but the ball was just too far ahead of the returning Nomads’ top scorer.

It was too much for Loyola coach Vince Santos who brought on Mark Hartmann for Roxy Dorlas in the 43nd minute, looking to change the game before halftime. The move paid immediate dividends as Loyola knotted it up in the 44th minute. Hartmann found James Younghusband in space, picked out Phil Younghusband at the back post, and headed back across goal for Jeong, who gobbled up the easiest chance he will have all season, to level the scores at the break.  


Second half

Mark Hartmann had changed the game with his introduction and in the first minute of the second half he volleyed Loyola in front as Phil Younghusband crossed in for the marauding substitute. Immediately though, Nomads equalized as Phil Connolly was again the supplier in the 48th minute, flicking on a long throw-in for Bafio Magassa to hook the ball into the net.

Loyola made another change come the 54th minute, as Jang Jo Won replaced a seemingly injured Jeong before Mico Mabanag came off for Jason Arroyo in the 57th and Angelo Verseye was replaced by the returning Park Min Ho in the 61st.

Nomads could have taken the lead in the 63rd minute as Magassa’s shot from a corner was blocked by a defender, Loyola looking unable to cope with the Nomads’ set pieces, and they themselves had only managed six shots in the first hour and a bit of the game. Both teams made some more changes next as Mickael Cardoso came on for Nomads while Jang Joo Wong replaced Matthew Hartmann for Loyola.

Loyola created a decent chance and got Davide Cortina in a good position, but his flick misread the play and Nomads booted the ball upfield, Connolly almost forcing his way into a chance on the counter. Moments later Connolly flicked the ball back for Nicolas Hacker to unleash a piledriver at goal, forcing Sorongon into a goal save tipping over. Cortina was then replaced by Alexandro Elnar, before Nomads had a penalty shout for handball turned down.

The Sparks could have won the game when a chipped through ball reached Mark Hartmann and he lobbed Friso Klok, but it didn't dip enough and just went over ,meaning the Nomads more than held their own in the 2-2 draw, basically guaranteeing their safety from relegation, with Loyola crashing out of the title race six points behind the Stallions but having played a game more.

What’s next for the teams

Loyola are virtually out of the title race after dropping points here. Six points behind Stallion and having played a game more, it is impossible for the Sparks to finish ahead of the Stallions without the UFL Cup champions losing three of their last four.

Loyola will next be in action against the Green Archers on May 30, looking for a return to form, before they fly to the Singapore Cup.

After the draw here, the Nomads look virtually safe from relegation, seven points ahead of the Air Force. It was a resolute performance which belied their recent form and Nomads deserved the point. With some smart passing and link-up play of their own, stand-in coach Alasdair Thomson seems to have not only improved their fortunes of late, but also their style too.

Nomads will be against the Army next on June 1, as they look to make their continued UFL Division One status official with a victory.  - AMD, GMA News