UFL 2012: Pasargad hold Green Archers to 1-1 stalemate

Green Archers United had the best of the chances but couldn’t convert them as Pasargad F.C. eked out a 1-1 draw to give both sides their first point of the 2012 United Football League, last Sunday.

 

It took until the 53rd minute for the Green Archers to break the deadlock when Shag Shapay Johnson latched onto a good through ball from Floriano Pasilan Jr. and went between the keeper’s legs to open the scoring. 

 

Ronnie Seto equalized for Pasargad later on in the match to earn his side a point as he got to a lobbed through ball first and rounded the Archers’ keeper to finish from a tight angle. 

 

Both teams were coming off the back of consecutive losses in their opening two games but Pasargad will be the happier of the two sides after being on the back foot for most of the game and ending with ten men.

 

On a rough pitch at the University of Makati, the game started slowly with neither team effectively imposing their will. Arnie Pasinabo Jr. looked like the greatest Archer threat, playing several short one-two passes and moving into space for the return. On one occasion he managed to strike the ball well and forced Abdollah Golkah in the Pasargad goal into a fine save. 

 

After a tentative first half, things became much brighter with Pasinabo again looking dangerous. His early left footed shot was saved before he stole the ball from Xarex Velasquez and burst down the wing to the touchline but his cross was just too high for the lurking Archers attackers in the box. 

 

Things went from bad to worse for Pasargad, starting with a questionable offside flag on a Dieter Vangrunderbeek foray. That was followed by the Green Archers taking the lead, as Pasilan found Johnson to open the scoring. 

 

Pasargad’s day got worse as Allan Rey Fernandez was then given a red card. Initially, the referee didn’t see any incident, nor did the crowd, but his assistant called him over and Fernandez was issued a straight red card leaving Pasargad with ten men for the rest of the game. 

 

A goal and a man in front, the Green Archers were the heavy favorites to see out the game but Ronnie Seto spoiled any premature celebrations as he latched onto a lobbed through pass and beat Archers’ keeper Martin Villaflor in the race to the ball. Seto still had a lot to do as he was forced out wide. Striking the ball with the outside of his boot, it just made it to the back of the net before the chasing defender got there.

 

The Archers had the better of the chances to win the game though, with Pasilan having several more looks, but Pasargad held for their first point of the season. 

 

The result sees the Green Archers climb to seventh while Pasargad are in eighth after both teams leapfrog the Air Force and Navy, as all four teams have just one point. Navy now sits at the foot of the table, following their 2-1 loss to Kaya later in the day.— AD/RSJ, GMA News