UFL: Late goals shoot Archers past Air Force and out of relegation battle

In a match with big implications for the relegation battle, Green Archers United arrested a three-match winless run on Thursday, at the Emperador Stadium, snagging a 4-2 victory over Air Force FC.
 
The Archers took the lead when Chieffy Caligdong converted a penalty, won by Jesus Melliza when he was pushed over by early substitute Joel Ballo-Allo’s shot in the box. Ian Araneta equalized soon after though, heading in Vince Braga’s free-kick at the 35th minute, before a second-half Araneta penalty put the Air Force in front.

However, three goals in the last ten minutes reversed the result, with Arnie Pasinabo driving in through the keeper’s hands in the 82nd minute, before assisting Agbayomi Olowoyeye to put the Archers ahead in the 85th. In injury time, Jesus Melliza slotted past Dolloso with a one-on-one chance to make the win more comfortable, as the Archers ran out as winners.

First half

The Archers came out of the blocks quickly, shooting at goal early, but each of their attempts was blocked. Nicolas Leonora denied one effort as the ball rocketed against his hand, but he was forced off the pitch and replaced by Joel Ballo-Allo in only the fifth minute, with the former's hand iced and bandaged up.

After little action in-between, the 19th minute saw Paul Concepcion’s weak header back spilled again by Dolloso, under pressure from Jesus Melliza, and the Archers’ midfielder shot at goal from a tight angle. The ball squeezed between the legs of Concepcion, but Neckson Leonora got himself onto the goal-line to clear away the shot.

Then Mark Ferrer came off for Romeo Martinez, clearly wincing as he left the field, as the Air Force made their second substitution at the 25th minute. Neckson Leonora was then in the book as Martinez took to the pitch.

In their first meaningful opportunity of the game, the Air Force sustained some possession, with Francis Gustilo wriggling between two defenders. With ball spread out wide, the cross came in and was flicked on Jalor Soriano, who headed over from six-yards out.

Momentum shifted to the Green Archers when substitute Ballo-Allo was clearly seen pulling Melliza's shirt before pushing him over. Chieffy Caligdong stepped up to put away the penalty in the 31st minute, side-footing it in the middle, as the Archers took the lead.

The lead didn't last long though, as Ian Araneta equalized for the Air force in the 35th minute. Vince Braga curled a cross from a free-kick and was met by a leaping Araneta, whose header glanced into the corner of the net, good for a 1-1 tie.


Second half

At the start of the second half, Ronnie Aguisanda replaced Ivan Fraire in goal for the Archers, something unusual given Aguisanda is normally an outfield player.

Tating Pasilan also came off in the 51st minute for Agbayomi Olowoyeye, before Aguisanda made a good double save in the 58th minute, stopping Ian Araneta's shot from the left and the blocking the follow-up with his body. However, the Archers conceded a penalty, thanks to a handball by Reynald Villareal on the rebound.

Araneta stepped up to convert the penalty in the 59th minute, sending the makeshift goalkeeper the wrong way for his second goal of the game and his seventh of the season, but he signaled to be substituted after scoring and was taken off in the 62nd minute for Jezurel Tonog. The Air Force scorer had earlier ran into the woodwork as he was unable to stop his momentum. Though he tried and failed to shake off the injury, he had at least put his side up 2-1 before leaving.

The Air Force made another substitution in the 72nd minute as Rodolfo Bebanco came off for Martin Doctora. With both teams seeming to tire, the play was slowed down and the Archers made another change with Chieffy Caligdong hobbling off the pitch for Elle Cagayanan, a player most known for running from the substitutes’ bench and onto the pitch to aim a flying kick at Dario Dakic, before running back to the bench again.

Ayi Nii Aryee then came off for Shag Shapay Johnson as the Archers looked to some fresh legs to change the game, with Arvin Gaspe also substituted in. Two of those substitutes combined in the 79th minute as Cagayanan crossed in for Olowoyeye, but his side-foot volley went well over from about 10 yards out, leaving the Archers little time to get back into the game.

However, equalize they did in the 82nd minute, Olowoyeye holding the ball up in the area and laying off for Pasinabo, whose shot rifled through the crowd of players but was straight at Dolloso. The ball though squirmed between his hands and into the net for another late Archers goal.

The Air Force again started to lose their cool, Vince Braga looking to see where the goalscorer Pasinabo was before throwing his elbow into his face. Yet only a yellow card was given when it was a clear red and the Air Force were lucky to still have eleven men on the pitch.

AThings got worse for the Air Force as Pasinabo turned provider, cutting the ball back for Olowoyeye who shot on the turn inches from the penalty spot to put his side in front in the 85th minute 3-2.

Moments later ,the Air Force were lucky to be only one goal behind as a brilliant low cross found Melliza at the backpost, and with the goal gaping in front of him he sent it back across goal and into Dolloso’s legs, the only place he wouldn’t score. But he made up for the miss in the first minute of injury time on the counterattack, turning his man and clipping the ball into the bottom corner, to wrap up the 4-2 win for the Archers.

What’s next for the teams

The Green Archers are now five points ahead of the Air Force and that may well now prove enough to avoid finishing in the bottom two places, with the Armed Forces derbies completed. The Archers will also be against the Army on May 18, and will be almost guaranteed survival if they pick up a second straight win.

The Air Force, meanwhile, were on track for their third win in four games until the late Archers’ goals and it will be difficult for them to pick up points as they face the Stallions next on May 16, with a game against Global following that. - CLP/AMD, GMA News