This appears in interaksyon.com
Pasargad
draws with Green Archers to enter knockout stages in style
by rick olivares
October 29, 2011
University of Makati
Substitutions can either make or break
a team.
When Kaya played Diliman it was the
second half adjustments and entry of Anton del Rosario that changed the
fortunes for the Juan Cutillas-mentored club that allowed them to win the
match.
During the Sunday, October 23 clash
between Pachanga and Global, the entry of Angel Guirado in the second half
clearly changed the pace of the match for the latter and the two goals his side
scored to draw level with Pachanga clearly had his imprint all over them.
And there was Pachanga-Queen City
United match where Shirmar Felongco was lifted after 11 minutes due to an
injury. Lagrimas scored a goal two minutes after that lifted the early pressure
from Cebu that not only dominated possession but also kept attacking.
And there’s Green Archers United
against Pasargad.
The alumni team of De La Salle
University has had one of the top-rated defenses heading into the end of the
group stage. Bracketed with Pasargad, Forza, and Dolphins United, the Green
Archers made short work of Forza 5-nil and Dolphins 6-0. They were the sixth
best goal scoring team with 11 heading into the match but perhaps more than the
wins, it was an immense source of pride that the had kept two clean sheets. And
in fact, were only one of three clubs not to have a ball go past the keeper
(the other two are Nomads and Army).
On the other side of the pitch,
Pasargad, the Iranian club that once featured a striker named Misagh Bahadoran,
was in second place but in a tricky situation. They toted a 1-1 record after a
1-nil win over Dolphins and a 4-2 loss to Forza. They were tied with Forza at
second but had the tie breaking owing to a better goal difference – negative
one as opposed to the negative five of Forza. For them to advance they needed
either a win, a draw, or if they lost to the group leaders, it should not be by
more than four goals. Yet head coach Essi Sedigh remained optimistic of his
team’s chances.
But once the game began, it was all
Green Archers. With former national player Arnie Pasinabo and team captain
Patrick Bocobo making run after run, it seemed that it was a matter of time
before they scored.
All that was keeping Pasargad in the
match was the netminding of Abdollah Golkhah who had turned back numerous
strikes against him. Jay-Ar Inventor and Friday Uche did their best to mount
attacks for Sedigh’s team but the defensive line of Jun Mark Saraga, Arvin
Soliman, Reynald Villareal, and Luis Miguel Celdran drove them back.
Needing a spark, Green Archers’
manager Monchu Garcia who had taken over Adolfo Alicante who was unavailable
for the match, replaced midfielder Kix Romero-Salas with Gung Villa on the
right midfield. Romero-Salas is a very good midfielder but if he is unable to
get going early then he is off his game. While Villa, who had just graduated
from DLSU, brought in fresh legs and pace off the right flank, it was the
introduction of Gerald Pacquiao, normally a starter, in the late stages of the
match that galvanized their team.
Pacquiao, who starred for the
University of St. La Salle in Bacolod and the National Capital Region team in
the recent Under-23 national championships, was found by midfielder Shapay
Johnson off a free kick and he outran his defenders finally beat Golkhah to
give his side a 1-nil lead in the 63rd minute. Pacquiao would cause
more problems for Pasargad on the left freeing up Pasinabo and Bocobo for more
chances but the Green Archers were still unable to add a second goal.
Not soon after Pacquiao’s goal, Sedigh
sent in midfielder Navid Khorsani for Uche. But after conceding that goal,
Pasargad kept most of their players on their side of the field to prevent any
more additional goals leaving Ruben Bioumla up front in the event of a counter
attack.
Four minutes added to the match,
Pasargad had one chance to steal a goal for a draw when they were awarded a
corner shot. For the first time since the early part of the second half,
Pasargad sent almost their entire team forward. The ball found Kohorsani in the
box and the Iranian quickly turned and fired away to the second post past a
diving Martin Villaflor.
Seconds later, the final whistle blew for a 1-1 draw and Pasargad qualified for the knockout stages.
Said a disappointed Monchu Garcia, “I
think it’s our curse to given up late goals. Last year we gave up one to Navy
and other squads. But we’re in and we just have to learn from this and play
until the final whistle ends.”
Added Khorsani, “We knew it’s our last
chance to score because it’s good to advance because of what you do on the
field. We earned that point and it’s a good chance for Pasargad to enter the
next stage.”
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