UFL: Archers snatch late winner with Chieffy double

It was a game of two halves at the Emperador Stadium on Tuesday, with the Archers dominating early, and the Nomads getting the better of the second half. However, Chieffy Caligdong would score his second in injury time, to give the Archers a 2-1 win. Nomads keeper Friso Klok soaked up a lot of pressure early on, until the Nomads couldn't take anymore, as Chieffy Caligdong's effort was deflected over Klok, to put his side ahead in the 40th minute. Klok made amends though with four quality saves, five minutes left in the half, to keep the Nomads in the game, headed into the break. They would later come out of halftime with guns a'blazing, as Fidelis Nnabuife equalized, smashing the ball into the net from 10-yards out. With both teams failing to convert on several chances, it looked like the game would end in a draw, until Klok, brilliant up to that point, spilled a long-range effort into the path of Caligdong, who scored anew for the win.   First half The game started at a quick tempo, with both teams knowing they had to get three points to move up the table. In the fourth minute Friso Klok made a finger-tip save, tapping the ball onto the top of the crossbar when Chieffy Caligdong had cut in from the right wing and fired at goal from a tight angle. Immediately at the other end, the Archers almost gifted the Nomads the lead when a poor pass-back forced Patrick Deyto to rush out of his area and slide in on Fidelis Nnabuife.   Tating Pasilan then sent Jesus Melliza through on goal but he could only poke the ball too close to Klok, who got down well to save the shot and keep his team level. Making his debut, Andrew Sam received a pass on the left and shot at goal but kicked into the ground spraining his right leg, a recurring injury. Coming off in only the 19th minute, he was replaced by James Woldring. In the 24th minute, Sean Lee got his head to a free-kick and directed the ball towards goal. As it rebounded off the bar, Klok got up and screamed at his defense, as the much-taller Nomads players allowed another attempt at goal. GAU then came close again with some sharp passing, allowing Chieffy to cross in from the right. Jovanie Simpron heading at goal, but Klok managed to get a the block, before Chieffy himself forced Klok to turn the ball behind for a corner soon after. The Archers again failed to score as Jesus Melliza had the chance to break the deadlock. Played in low from the right, he hit the ball first time with his left foot from around the penalty spot, but skied the ball over the bar. Then Chieffy Caligdong was through on goal and shot, and with Klok out of his area when he made what would have been a great save, the result was a booking for the handball. Somewhat of a déjà-vu in Nomads’ games, their opponents usually dominated the game, but things were still scoreless, as the Nomads threatened on the counter, while the Archers wasted several good chances. That changed under some fortuitous circumstances, as Caligdong picked up a poor header away from inside the area, and cut inside onto his left foot. His shot was deflected, but spooned up over Klok and into the back of the net in the 40th minute. Two minutes later, Klok blocked what would have been Chieffy and the Archers’ second goal, diving well to his left to palm away the shot before making an even better save from Melliza less than a minute later, getting his hand to a low drive. Then only seconds afterwards, he tipped over another shot from Melliza with a diving save, in probably the best three minute performance a goalkeeper has had in the UFL. Klok's efforts kept the Nomads in the game, only one goal behind at the break, with another point-blank save off Melliza just to underline the point. Second half The Nomads, after making two substitutions at the break, came out fired up and wanting to equalize. Crossing from the right, the Archers failed to clear the ball properly, and as the ball fell to Fidelis Nnabuife in the 48th minute, he smashed it into the roof of the net. Moments later he was through on goal and forced a good save out of Patrick Deyto, who dived to his right to block the effort.   Needing to make a change, the Archers bought on Arnie Pasinabo for Tating Pasilan who was probably not 100 percent fit. With the game settling down, James Woldring got a yellow card in the 62nd minute after his touch was just too strong inside the box, and he slid in on his man to try and win it back. Shag Shapay Johnson was then replaced by Ayi Nii Aryee in the Archers’ midfield, as they looked to get back into the game. From a fantastic through ball, Melliza had another opportunity and tried to slip it under the onrushing Klok, but the Nomads keeper again thwarted the effort and kept his side level. After Deyto saved smartly from Woldring, Melliza fired high and wide from a nice pass out wide via Chieffy Caligdong. Klok made a good double save, despite the referee missing a handball in the build-up, as he got himself down quickly to make his fourteenth and fifteenth save of the game. However, into injury time, the Archers shot from distance and the ball rebounded off Klok’s chest, allowing Chieffy to follow up and tap the ball into the back of the net for his and the Archers’ second goal, which turned out to be the winning goal, allowing them to snatch all three points. What’s next for the teams With only their second win of the season so far, the Archers have managed to come within a point of seventh-placed PSG. Moving further away from the relegation zone, those three points may be more precious as their next game is against the Stallions on April 18. For the Nomads meanwhile, their fourth game without a win sees them lose ground to Kaya and Pachanga, who stand in fourth and fifth place. However they can try to get back to their winning ways against the Air Force, also on April 18, as they seek to regain their early form. - CLP/AMD GMA News