UFL: Amidst goalkeeping theatrics, Global start strong, ward off physical PSG

In Scottish coach Brian Reid’s first league game in charge for defending league champs Global, he oversaw a positive 2-0 victory over a quickly-improving Pasargad (PSG) side, Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, for an unusually good start to a competition. All this, while wearing a bib, because apparently players would have confused the 42-year-old Scot wearing a polo shirt in the dugout with a PSG player on the pitch. The story of the first half was the theatrics of Reza Ataei in goal for PSG, as he displayed the ugly side of his game, regularly rolling around, feigning injury, until Niño Ochotereno tapped in a Misagh Bahadoran cross in the dying seconds of the half as Global finally found a breakthrough. In the second half Reza Ataei again dominated the limelight with his unsporting behavior, at one point intentionally, blatantly, tripping himself over a player who was on the floor. But Ben Starosta headed Global into a 2-0 lead in the 76th minute soon after and the PSG goalkeeper was left with egg on his face, as his antics cost PSG the time to get back into the game. First half With five midfielders on Azkals’ duty, what with a friendly against Myanmar on Wednesday, Global were somewhat undermanned but still fielded a strong side with Niño Ochotereno and Ben Starosta making their league debuts in midfield. Misagh Bahadoran had a rare first-half opportunity, heading an Aaron Altiche cross over the bar in the 12th minute as both teams looked to find some space on a patchy pitch. A theatrical display from PSG was led by Reza Ataei, who began wasting time from the first moment he received the ball. It showed PSG’s game plan as clearly they were looking for a draw against the defending champions, and it proved effective early on. Ataei then stoked things up by racing out of his area to beat Misagh Bahadoran to the ball. With his foot dangerously high, he then intentionally went into the back of the floored Bahadoran on his way to the goal, but the PSG keeper was lucky to escape without a booking, let alone a free-kick. PSG had a half-chance of their own in the 32nd minute as a free-kick was curled in, punched away by Roland Sadia in goal while under pressure, and Hamed Hajimhedi shot over the bar with the keeper out of position. Two minutes later and a ball over the top saw Gerald Orcullo hold off Altiche, who dived in for the ball in a fifty-fifty challenge with the PSG keeper. After hearing the whistle for the free-kick, rightly given, Ataei immediately began his customary rolling show, proving he can not only pick up a ball with his hands, but that he has also the ability to roll along the floor dramatically. In some sense it’s a credit to PSG that the theatrics were the story of the first half as they shut out the defending champions early in the game, but it certainly wasn’t sporting behavior. PSG almost went in front moments later as Hajimhedi shot from just outside the area, forcing Sadia into a good, two-handed save to his left in the best opportunity of the game up to that point. Ataei was called into action at the other end, in an actual goalkeeping sense, pawing away an Izzo El Habbib header from a Yu Hoshide free-kick. Just as it looked like the half would end goalless though, Izzo El Habbib knocked a high ball down for Misagh Bahadoran in the area, and his low cross found Niño Ochotereno at the back post for a tap in, which resulted in a score on his league debut, and a broken deadlock in injury time of the first half. Second half Reza Ataei was again at the heart of the action at the start of the second half, turning round a striker pressuring him from a backpass before his clearance was straight to Starosta. Fortunately for him, the Polish defender couldn’t get his lob on target from 30 yards out.   PSG then had their best chance of the game as Charles Ujam crossed in from a very similar position to Global’s goal in the first half, but PSG couldn’t convert from six yards out. Global shot down the other end and Aaron Altiche got through one-on-one, but Ataei spread himself well for the save, and the ball ricocheted off the keeper and onto the post, with Global firing the rebound over. Then in the most cynical of Reza Ataei’s theatrics, the PSG keeper watched Altiche on the floor clutching his leg after their clash, proceeded to trip over him intentionally, and then feigned injury himself. But both teams were finding more space and some football was actually being played. After PSG headed over a chance, Ben Starosta broke through but shot too close to Ataei, who made a good save. Izzo El Habbib then headed over the bar with a clear opportunity before he tangled with the PSG goalkeeper. While the Global forward was grounded, the PSG goalkeeper inexplicably grabbed the Global forward’s leg and started dragging him across the floor. El Habbib understandably reacted angrily and pushed the PSG keeper in the chest. Again Ataei rolled on the floor, got up for a moment then began rolling again and repeated the move once again showing everyone that he is by far the best in the league at screaming and rolling around on the floor. Finally, he received a yellow card for his conduct, as did the Global forward, in what may be the most popular push in the history of Philippine football. Ataei’s antics took the spotlight away from the football and at this stage of the game it cost PSG the time to get back into it, during a period of play where they looked an attacking threat. Meanwhile, James Gardner came on for the goalscorer Niño Ochotereno in the 73rd minute as Ochotereno looked to have picked up a knock. Two minutes, later the other debutant, Ben Starosta, headed Global into a 2-0 lead as Yu Hoshide whipped in a free-kick and Starosta rose well to guide the ball past Ataei and double Global’s advantage. With more rolling around from Reza Ataei, Global brought on Carli De Murga, still recovering from a hamstring injury, into the game during injury time. Somehow that injury time was only four minutes long, despite at least fifteen minutes of Ataei highlights. Seeing the game out, Global start the league well with a good victory over a battling and improving PSG squad, the disgraceful antics of Reza Ataei aside. They’ll look to build momentum on this but for PSG, their reputation will certainly take a battering due to their keeper. And with officials who notice his cheating more, they’ll see red more frequently too. - AMD, GMA News Man of the Match: Misagh Bahadoran