UFL: Global hold off Loyola, crowned league champs

All Global FC needed was a draw or a win against the Loyola Meralco Sparks, and they would become this season’s UFL Division 1 champions. It wasn’t going to be easy though, going up against the league’s top scorers, and in front of what was possibly the noisiest and biggest UFL crowd ever. First half The game started with end to end football, with both teams attacking, as James Younghusband had the beating of Valentine Kama on the right wing early while Angel Guirado beat his man on the left before Phil Younghusband and Anto Gonzales tracked back to recover. Yu Hoshide, captaining the Global side, put in a good cross in the eighth minute, which was met by the head of Angel Guirado, but Ref Cuaresma in goal managed to save fairly comfortably. Despite knowing that they could only finish third at most after Kaya’s 1-0 victory over Stallion, the Sparks weren’t taking the game lying down. Their players were clearly frustrated when play broke down as they were passing the ball better but midfielder Mark Hartmann’s decisions to play elaborate balls rather than simple passes frustrated the Younghusband brothers particularly. The League’s top scorer, Phil Younghusband, then had the chance to open the festivities as he beat the offside trap with Valentine Kama looking for the whistle, but Younghusband’s lob went just over the bar in the 28th minute. As the half then looked as if it would end goalless, Phil Younghusband put in his brother James Younghusband on the right wing and the latter curled in a great cross for Davide Cortina. Free in the area after a good run, he failed to connect with the ball in what was a good opportunity for the Sparks. Forced onto the backfoot, Global was made to do a bit of last-ditch defending as first, Carli De Murga headed away a Cortina shot from a corner, before Guisso blocked on the line moments later. It was frantic, but Global did hold out for the half with the game goalless. Second half Global had the first chances of the second half and should have scored when Patrick Reichelt did well on the right wing to beat his man and supply a great cross for Izzo El Habbib, but the usually clinical finisher headed wide from ten yards out. Reichelt created the next chance, too, as the winger beat two defenders and crossed, but it was Alex Obiang who mistimed his shot tamely wide. Loyola then had a disallowed goal on the 54th minute, with the Younghusbands combining to head a cross towards Mark Hartmann, who nodded it into the goal, but several of their players were closely offside in the build-up. Reichelt had the next chance himself as Guirado spread the ball out wide to the Global winger who beat two defenders, but whether his attempt was a cross or a shot at goal no-one was quite sure as it trickled well wide. Loyola threatened again from set pieces. Another well-delivered free-kick was flicked on and Park Min Ho had a great chance at goal but headed at the keeper. Angel Guirado then went on a mazy dribble, beating two defenders again and again as he was brought down several times, though eventually the referee gave a free-kick to Loyola for handball when Guirado was brought down again and unintentionally handled the ball while on the floor. Guirado reacted furiously and threw the ball away getting booked for the incident. Yet for all the neat passing of Loyola and the well-carved out crosses from Global, the opening goal of the game was a complete fluke. In the 65th minute, a long cross found Izzo el Habbib, who managed to get to the ball first and flick it on with his head. The ball ballooned over the goalkeeper and the recovering defender slid to try and keep the ball out as it fell towards the goal, but he couldn’t and Global opened the scoring in lucky fashion. The goal also meant that El Habbib would finish as the league’s second top scorer. Ahead in the match and two points clear in the league, Global had to dig deep to defend as Loyola weren’t giving up. Anto Gonalzes crossed for Phil Younghusband who headed wide a minute later. Pushing forward, Phil Younghusband played a good through ball but Jerome Etoundi, who in goal for Global while Paolo Pascual is with the Under-22 squad, spilled the shot. Fortunately for him, and for Global, the ball trickled wide. He wasn’t so fortunate on the corner, though, as it was crossed in deep and Eddie Maallari put the ball back in the box. Trying to dive on the ball Etoundi again spilled it and the ball crossed the line to give Loyola the equalizer. Angel Guirado then held onto the ball and wouldn’t let it go, an obstruction which perhaps should have cost him a second yellow card as James Younghusband harried him for the ball. However Global management wisely brought off the winger who had put in a good shift for Global. Upon realizing that Loyola were level, and that one more goal for Loyola would give Kaya the title, the Kaya boys started to cheer for Loyola and get the crowd behind them, in possibly the noisiest period of football in the UFL, perhaps even in the Rizal Memorial Stadium itself, with fans of Loyola and Global competing to be heard. Global could have gotten the winner, as another Yu Hoshide free-kick was hit towards David Basa this time. The Global left-back lost his man at the backpost but couldn’t direct his header on target though. Anto Gonzales then immediately at the other end managed to turn two defenders and shoot at goal, but his shot was always rising and wound up just slightly wide of goal. Then for the shortest cameo of the evening, on came Badrelin El Habbib. On the pitch for only a few minutes, he launched into a tackle and realizing how bad it really was, feigned injury for a while (possibly longer than he was actually playing for), was stretchered off and shown a red card for his troubles. That event did waste valuable time, though, and the full-time whistle blew,  with a 1-1 score sounding Global as champions of the UFL. Their one point drew them level at the top with Kaya, but as they possessed a superior goal difference, it was Global that got to hoist the trophy at the end of the UFL 2011/2012 season. - AMD, GMA News