No déjà vu for Kaya as their no-cheer offense pips Green Archers United

No déjà vu for Kaya as their no-cheer offense pips Green Archers United

by rick olivares with pic by tunying peñaredondo

January 22, 2012

University of Makati

With the memory of the meltdown against Loyola in last year’s UFL Cup semifinals looming following a mistake that saw Green Archers United equalize late in the game, 1-1, Kaya responded with aplomb that righted their ship and probably justified their status as favorites to win the league title.

Scant seconds after Arnel Gaspe pounced on a defensive miscue by Kaya to draw level with in the 85^th minute, midfielder Lexton Moy scored immediately after the reset when his shot trickled in past Green Archers keeper Martin Villaflor.

There was a moment’s confusion as to whether Moy’s shot crossed the line as Villaflor immediately smothered the ball but the linesman signaled that the ball was in to make it 2-1 Kaya with four minutes left to fulltime.

The Green Archers bench vociferously protested the call with one fan in the stands hurling a water bottle onto the track but the game officials upheld the call.

“All I was thinking of was, ‘Oh, no. Not again.’ And I tried to make something happen,” described Moy, the New York native, of the incident. “I found the ball in front of me and didn’t hesitate to fire away. I saw it go in. The keeper dove on the ball so it didn’t seem like it was in but for sure, it did go in and the linesman saw it too.”

The Green Archers thought it was a horrible and costly call. “Tinawag ng linesman na goal pero wala siya sa posisyon. Malayo siya so paano nangyari yun,” questioned Gerald Pacquiao. Team manager Monchu Garcia could only shake his head in response.

Kaya dominated possession early in the match but struggled in their final attack. However in the 48^th minute, Moy linked up with Prince Mark Boley on the overlap where he ditched a Green Archer defender before firing a laser that beat Villaflor. “I was tired, man,” said an exhilarated Moy. “I ran in the morning and was a little more tired. But this was an important game and I really wanted to help my team win.”

The Green Archers started out passively as they allowed Kaya to run rampant in the midfield. But once they fell behind, just as they did against Loyola on opening day, they woke from their stupor to come dangerously close. Arnie Pasinabo Jr., silent for the most part of the match, nearly reprised his masterful goal a week earlier against the Sparks as he drove in from the left wing. But his shot drifted wide left.

Kaya showed a new wrinkle to their attack with the addition of Alu “AK47” Kigbu who suited up for Pachanga during the cup competition. With Kigbu up front and Boley, Masa Omura, and Moy on the wings, Kaya was able to keep Green Archers off balance. Their constant ball pressure made it difficult for the Adolfo Alicante-coached club to get their offense going. At one point, a frustrated Green Archers defender Lemuel Unabia knocked down Kigbu on the sidelines drawing the ire of brothers Anton and Armand del Rosario. But the players were separated before it degenerated into an on-field melee.

However, as they have done since cup play, Green Archers’ defense held and kept them in the game. Without Tating Pasilan and Patrick Bocobo unavailable, their offensive options were fewer as Kaya neutralized Pasinabo in the match’s early stages.

Green Archers, winless in two matches thus far, hope barge into the win column when they take on Pasargad which is also languishing in the cellar after losing two straight next Sunday at 4pm at the University of Makati.

Kaya, currently unbeaten alongside Loyola and Stallion, follows suit when they face off with Navy at the main game at 6pm.


-------------------


My thoughts:
Green Archers need to play the full 90 minutes as opposed to playing catch up which is really difficult. They make good second half adjustments. Now why can't they start better?