Pasargad finds a new hero in Fil-Belgian Angelo Marasigan

Additional reading on Sunday's match recaps here at philstar.com

Pasargad finds a new hero in Fil-Belgian Angelo Marasigan

by rick olivares

For much of 2012, Pasargad was a team that you had to worry about. With key additions to the team such as Shayan Dastjerdi and Masood Shahdide, the former two-time UFL champions found teeth to their offense.

However both are now not wearing the red of Pasargad.

In their place, PSG, as they would now like to be called, are finding new heroes with every victory.

In their Round of 16 win over Army, Jaham Taher and Emmanuel MBata combined for their early goals before holding off a late charge by the military team.

Against General Trias International, Pasargad was oft on their heels against the tough, quick, and talented Korean-flavored squad out of Cavite.

General Trias has easily been the revelation of local football since last year’s UFL Cup. Aside from their superb fitness and conditioning, they places the spaces and angles like no one else. They track back better than any other club and have new tricks up their sleeves when it comes to set pieces.

Like Pasargad too, General Trias for all its vaunted game, has problems finishing. Perhaps that too can be partly attributed to the stingy defenses being put up by teams.

Pasargad midfielder Vasseba “Yaya” Toure had two point blank attempts saved by GTIFC keeper Seo Seung Seok that had the crowd cheering on. During an earlier attempt, Taher’s laser of a shot looked to go in a Seo was beaten but GTIFC’s Park Yi Young who was guarding the goalline booted out the ball before it could cross the line.

In a high intensity match marked by one counter offensive after another, it looked like General Trias would score first. Their attackers on the right flank – Cha Won Jae and Lee Jeong Mu gave Hamed Hajimehdi and Francis Sumudivilla fits while GTIFC’s left wing raids from Park Yi Young and Song Ji Hun harried PSG defender Angelo Marasigan and Mark Anthony Fernandez.

As General Trias came closer and closer with their attacks, Taher and central back Reza Amirkhizan would berate their Filipino teammates for giving up the ball or for not being able to keep up with their fleet-footed foes.

But the defenses of both sides refused to give way. On the occasions that shots went through, Seo and PSG’s Reza Ataei produced terrific saves.

In the 108^th minute of the second extra period, a GTIC defender cleared a corner shot by PSG. Unfortunately, the clearance wasn’t far enough and the ball went to Marasigan. In one motion, Marasigan fired a right-footed volley from some 40 yards out. it was a rocket and with most of the players of either team still inside the box, Seo didn’t see the ball until it was too late. He dived but couldn’t get his hands on the ball as it punched the net for a massive late goal.

As Marasigan ran back in celebration, Ataei ran towards him then knelt down beckoning the 20-year old Fil-Belgian to place his golden boot on his knee. Marasigan did so as Ataei – in one of the best goal celebrations – shined his boot with an imaginary towel.

Trias still had a pair of opportunities to level the match in the final two minutes but Ataei saved one while the other went wide.

As the final whistle blew on the 120-minute long match, PSG celebrated on the pitch. As the entire team ran to the locker room cheering “Pasargad! Pasargad!”, Marasigan stayed behind for some interviews. A few minutes later, Taher and Hajimehdi came out to look for their teammate. “Come inside and join the celebration,” said Taher as he muzzled his teammate’s hair. “We’re going to the semifinals.”

Another game. Will there be another hero?