UFL: Late Global goals unlock Air Force defense in heated game

In Jason De Jong’s first game since signing for Global on loan from the Stallions, Global began as they’ve played throughout the season so far, with crisp passing and movement, creating several clear chances. Controlling possession, Roland Sadia gathered in a free-kick, releasing Jeffrey Christiaens on the left who dribbled past two defenders before the second intentionally clipped his heels to end his dynamic run.

The Air Force continued their physical play throughout the game, with several pushes and late nudges intending to put Global off their stride. Global’s response was to continue creating chances at goal, twice firing across goal with no-one on the end before Starosta was found by Carli De Murga’s pinpoint long ball, but he unfortunately miscontroled.

Air Force’s physicality was then missed by the referee, as Misagh Bahadoran beat his man and headed the ball over another, before he was taken out with a hard slide tackle high on his leg.

Yet the Global 4-2-3-1 formation was working well and their passing was at least making the opportunities in front of goal. But then Carlos Guisso challenged in the air with Ian Araneta, the two clashing heads and Araneta screamed in pain and lay prostrate for a while. Receiving treatment for some time, it was a relief to see him re-enter the pitch after being seemingly unconscious.

Misagh Bahadoran then got into the book for a high foot, quickly followed by Vince Braga, who brought his man down at the edge of the area. Later, Bahadoran’s cut back was chipped over by De Murga before Christiaens played in Izzo El Habbib, but his tame left-footed shot went straight to Kenneth Dolloso in goal.

Global continued to dominate the game but couldn’t find the back of the net as Ben Starosta had the best chances of the half. His header first acrobatically tipped over by Dolloso from a Christiaens out-swinging corner before he skied his next shot from only a few yards out after a cross from the left wing.

Then as Patrick Yao got the next yellow card for catching his man with a high foot, the Air Force unsportingly played on as Carlos Guisso got cramps and signaled for the ball to be played out. Nothing came of the attempt, but the Air Force started to get into the game and some neat play led to a good through ball, though Roland Sadia was quick to dive on the danger and snuff out the chance.

Releasing the ball quickly for the counter attack, Starosta and De Murga were involved in setting Misagh Bahadoran through on goal as he won a corner. Then it was Dolloso’s turn to pounce on a through ball, as he became the major reason why the teams went into the halftime break goalless.
At the break, Patrick Reichelt came in for Izzo El Habbib. With Kenneth Dolloso misjudging a cross but tipping it away for a corner, Global finally found the back of the net. Christiaens curled in the corner and Carli De Murga headed in, but the goal didn’t stand as the officials deemed there a foul in the box as the cross came in.

Air Force began wasting time during the game as Global continued to press for the opening goal. All twenty outfield players at times incredibly standing in the same ten yards of the pitch. Carli De Murga managed to wriggle through the mass of defenders and won a corner from his left footed cross, but with every man back, the Air Force continued to beat back Global. Picking up from a misplaced pass, Starosta crossed in for Reichelt, but his header went just wide in a rare moment of space in the box.

Then Ian Araneta broke on the counterattack, took a touch past his defender, and struck at goal in perhaps his only real opportunity of the game. The ball was curling towards the top corner and Sadia did well to watch it all the way and tip it wide at the final moment, as the Air Force finally ventured out of their half.

Global quickly regained control of the game, and building up from the back, Jason De Jong played a well-weighted through ball to Patrick Reichelt, who took a touch and shot at goal from inside the area, but Dolloso pulled off a quick reflex save, diving to his right to palm the ball away.

With time beginning to run out, Jason De Jong drew a foul from twenty yards out. With the referee not signaling for players to wait for his whistle, and the FIFA rules saying that players don’t have to wait for the whistle otherwise, Carli De Murga took the free-kick quickly and curled it into the back of the net with the Air Force keeper caught out.

However, the referee blew the game back and disallowed the goal, which probably should have stood according to the laws of the game with no apparent message from the referee to wait or the players that they wanted to wait. With tempers beginning to flare, Reichelt fouled his man but then received three pushes, pin-balled between the Air Force players. No booking was given on any of the pushes.

Carli De Murga’s cross then found Bahadoran running in at the back post, but his header hit the woodwork as Global continued to be frustrated by Dolloso, the Air Force defense. Reichelt, annoyed by the continual pushing and late challenges, lashed out and kicked over his marker deserving a yellow card for the foul. However, with the Air Force man supposedly writhing in pain and receiving shouts from the crowd jeering the time wasting, he threw the ball at the crowd in a move unlikely win over any fans.

Global continued to lay siege to the Air Force defense, and almost scored again from a corner, two different players heading high. Yet with only minutes left in the game, Global finally broke the deadlock, and had it count, as Jeffrey Christiaens pounced on a loose ball, drove up the pitch, fed Patrick Reichelt’s run to the left, and headed in Reichelt’s beautifully curled cross into the net in the 86th minute.

Amidst the celebrations and relief, many of the Global boys rolled around as if they were wasting time to mock the earlier antics of the Air Force. Patrick Reichelt taunted Kenneth Dolloso in particular and drew his anger as the keeper threw the ball in his face and received his marching orders. Reichelt received a yellow card for his unsporting behavior.

Patrick Yao then found himself with space on the right, as a deep cross saw the Global defender in space in the 92nd minute. Taking a touch to control, he curled towards the top corner from a tight angle, finding the top corner against the substitute keeper with a deftly executed finish to ensure Global’s 100% record was kept intact. - RAF/AMD, GMA News