UFL: Archers shoot down Air Force, to claim first points of the season

All eyes were on Chieffy Caligdong in his first game against his former club, and the result was a 4-1 drubbing versus the Air Force, as Green Archers United scored their first win of the season, Thursday at the Emperador Stadium. Jesus Melliza scored in the 23rd minute with a powerful shot from outside the area before Chieffy himself doubled the Archers’ lead, heading into the net two minutes later. Francis Gustilo fired in the Air Force’s first goal of the season soon afterwards, drilling the ball in from a half cleared corner, but the Archers capitalized on a half cleared corner themselves after the break, with Ronnie Aguisanda shooting into the top corner five minutes after the restart to restore their two-goal advantage. The Archers then took an even more comfortable lead as Tating Pasilan fired in from a counter-attack. Making matters worse, Air Force finished with ten men as Neckson Leonora was sent off, picking up two yellow cards for two cynical fouls. First half Both teams were in need of a win, with Air Force still yet to score in the league, while the Archers had leaked ten goals in just three games before this match. In fact, only Army have conceded more. In the 14th minute, Shag Shapay Johnson clipped the feet of Ian Araneta, who had turned his man well. But the misfiring Azkal hit the free-kick straight into the middle of the wall and his touch was poor on the follow-up. The Air Force keeper, Kenneth Dolloso, then palmed away a long range effort in a tentative opening to the game. Yet out of nowhere, the game came to life as the Archers opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Jesus Melliza picked up a throw-in from the right side, cut onto his left foot, and drilled the ball into the top corner to put the Archers ahead. Air Force, the only team in the UFL still without a goal, never mind a point, went two goals behind just two minutes later as they poorly defended a corner, allowing Melliza to flick the ball on for Chieffy who headed past his former club. The marking was lax, allowing two free touches for the Archers to double their lead, with the Air Force imploding. They almost steadied the course however, when Antonio Albor nearly reached a cross with his head but won a corner instead. Then from the corner, the Archers cleared as far as Francis Gustilo, who struck the ball sweetly into the top corner in the 34th minute to give the Air Force their first goal of the season.   The Green Archers then curled in a free-kick deeply into the area, with Dolloso trying to punch the ball away but missing, presenting a perfect chance for Melliza to restore the Archers’ two-goal lead at the back post before Reymark Palmes slid in to block the effort from six yards out. It was a great sliding tackle which kept the Airmen in the game, just one goal behind going into the break. Second half After the break the Archers continued knocking on the door of the Air Force, looking to restore their advantage. Picking up a deep cross on the left wing, Chieffy cut onto his right foot and blasted at goal, but Dolloso palmed the ball away with a strong, acrobatic save. From the corner though, Air Force headed away and Ronnie Agasanda took control of the ball to fire into the top corner from outside the area in the 50th minute. The Air Force will be disappointed with the goal, not only by the headed clearance but also their tame follow-up, as Aguisanda wanted the ball more than his marker, who seemed scared to challenge, before hitting another good shot at goal. Soon after, Chieffy Caligdong was brought off in place of Jovanie Simpron, the former Airman helping to lift the Archers above his old club. But with Chieffy leaving, the Air Force lacked an attacking threat as their aging squad look ahead to a difficult season battling relegation. Air Force almost pulled a goal back when Joebel Bermejo hit the crossbar in the 63rd minute from inside the six-yard box. But the Green Archers countered and showed how quick the tide can turn in football, as the substitute Simpron beating his man and played a through ball to Tating Pasilan on the left, who fired past Patrick Deyto for give the Archers a 4-1 lead. The Archers were hunting for blood and after a well-worked corner was fired well over, they won a free-kick just outside the area when Pasilan was brought down by a professional foul from Neckson Leonora, who earned the first yellow card of the game. Simpron curled the ball at goal but the effort went wide. Both teams made changes as Martin Doctora came in for Mark Anthony Fernandez while Dan Ito replaced Shag Shapay Johnson, before the Archers almost extended their lead further. A 3v2 counterattack saw Pasilan play in Pasinabo, but his reverse pass wasn’t up to scratch and while Pasilan pounced on the free ball, Dolloso stuck out a leg to save.   Dolloso almost ruined that save shortly after when he fumbled a free-kick, the ball slipping through his hands but hitting his leg and going inches wide of the goal. Melliza then came off for Agbayoma Olowoyeye in the 74th minute after a good performance, leaving the field before Arvin Soliman replaced Reynald Villareal. Air Force almost fortuitously got a second consolation goal as Patrick Deyto acrobatically stopped a header from his own defender when the Air Force crossed the ball in, but the Archers saw out the rest of the game with Neckson Leonora sent off in the final minute after a second cynical foul, dragging back his man just outside the area. With the game already beyond their reach, the Air Force will miss him for the next game after that poor decision. The Archers, meanwhile, will be hoping to repeat this performance against their next opponents, the other Armed Forces side in the First Division, the Army on March 9. The Air Force will be disappointed with the poor performance as the matches between these three sides may well decide who stays in the top flight for next year. They’ll next be up against a strong Stallions side, fresh from their 2-1 win over Kaya last Tuesday, February 26. - CLP/AMD GMA News