Kaya wins
in Perkovic’s debut as Army implodes
by rick olivares
David Perkovic got his first win with
his new club after one practice and in his first coaching stint abroad. And the
ending made it every bit more memorable.
Kaya, in need of a big win, broke out
in a big way with a 3-0 win over Army with goals coming from the rejuvenated
Sean Illif, OJ Porteria, and super sub Janrick Soriano.
Soriano’s goal was in the 90th
minute and maybe that should have been the last thing on anyone’s mind but
Army’s Rodrigo Betita and the coaching staff were enraged about an apparent
missed call offside call on the Kaya player by linesman Ronald Yurag.
Betita kicked the ball towards Yurag
and referee Ariel Montaña issued him a yellow card. Not content with his
actions, Betita rushed towards Yurag and kicked him in the leg earning him a
red card.
Montaña, with the outcome beyond reach
despite there being four minutes of added time, whistled the match to an end to
prevent tempers from escalating. “Wow, I am shocked,” remarked Perkovic who
planed in last Saturday and was able to scout Army in their match with Green
Archers United that ended in a 1-1 draw. Added Perkovic about Army: “They are
good when they want to be because they have skill but when they begin to play
physical they lose their focus.”
Ironically, it was Army that
threatened to score early on. In their past three matches, their football took
precedence over the rough play for which they are also known for. Army coach
Sgt. Ricky Cain put five attackers up front that kept Kaya’s defense busy. Meliton
Pelayo, Luisito Brilliantes and Roel Gener had shots at Kaya’s goal but keeper
Saba Garmaroudi was up to the task including an acrobatic tip off a bending
shot by Gener from 30 yards out.
Both sides traded counter attacks
however neither team looked like they were in control. However, a miscue
between Army midfielder Boogie Margarse and the defenders saw Kaya forward Eric
Dagroh latch on to the ball. Dagroh was able to send a cross from the deep
right corner that Illif headed in for a goal in the 44th minute.
The game threatened to get rough in
the first half after a tackle by OJ Porteria on Army midfielder Ricardo Becite
that saw the solider carried off on a stretcher. Becite would return but a
couple of more fouls threatened to turn what was a well-played match into
another donnybrook. Mercifully, the first half ended without further incident.
At the half, Perkovic took off
midfielder Anton Ugarte for defender Nico Bolzico. Having another tall and
rangy defender in Bolzico allowed Perkovic to move Dario Dakic forward a tactic
that put more pressure on Army as Kaya had better chances on winning high balls
and headers. Perkovic also reminded his players to make better decisions with
the ball and their passing.
The adjustments worked but it was another
lapse in concentration that led to Army’s undoing.
In the 63rd minute,
Brilliantes got in the way of Becite who had the ball just in their attacking
half. Forward Alu Kigbu pilfered the ball from Brilliantes then dashed forward
unchallenged until the final third. Drawing the defense towards him, Kigbu
found Porteria who finished off the pass with Kaya’s second goal in the 63rd
minute.
It was a huge goal and a backbreaker.
Unfortunately, it also sent the match spiraling downward.
In a later attempt, Brilliantes fell
down on Garmaroudi who kicked out at the Army man. Sgt. Cain and the rest of
the coaching staff felt that Brilliantes fall was unintentional and demanded a
caution on the Kaya keeper.
At one point Pelayo looked to get a
long ball where he threatened to go one-on-one with Garmaroudi. But he was
whistled for being offside. An incensed Army coaching staff harangued the
referee earning a warning.
Then came Soriano’s goal. Soriano, who
played with title winning teams in his two seasons in the UFL (Global in 2011
and Pachanga in 2012), scored off a longball where he fired away from a diving
Sacapaño. Army felt Soriano was offside and argued vociferously.
“It’s a shame the match ended that
way,” said Perkovic after the final whistle. “I think Kaya played well and of
course we can only get better. It’s a process of adjustment and learning. The
end shouldn’t take away from the efforts of the boys.”
The win saw Kaya even up its slate to
2-2-2 while Army dropped to 0-1-5.
Sobrang rough talaga maglaro ang AFP teams.
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