Stallion deals Loyola first loss; moves into first place

Stallion deals Loyola first loss; moves into first place

 by rick olivares

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Emperador Stadium

Stallion dealt Loyola a crushing loss when it came from a one-goal deficit to score three goals in the second half in a thrilling a 4-2 win, Tuesday night at the Emperador Stadium.

In a game featuring two of the UFL’s most dynamic scoring forces in Stallion’s Rufo Sanchez and Loyola’s Phil Younghusband, defense had to take a backseat.

True enough, it was Younghusband who struck first for Loyola when he went around Stallion central back Kim Hyo Il for the game’s first goal in the 30^th minute.

The prolific Sanchez, however, replied seven minutes later when he blasted in a rebound off a Kim free kick clanged off the first post and ricocheted out. Sanchez took one stride and in one motion kicked in the equalizer with his left foot before Loyola defenders could react.

Stallion didn’t have much time to celebrate as on Loyola’s very next offensive, Jeong Byeong Yeol evaded a tackle by Jovin Bedic then slipped a pass to a cutting Matthew Hartmann on the overlap for a thunderous finish off keeper Guilherme Hasegawa for a 2-1 lead.

After a seemingly slow start by both teams at the reset, Lee Joo Young’s stunning strike from just outside the Loyola box that drew Stallion level dramatically changed the tone of the match.

In the 57^th minute, Stallion midfielder Hector Zaghi, playing perhaps his best match thus far, slipped a pass through Sparks defenders PJ Fadrigalan and Rodrigue Nembot to a cutting Sanchez. Before Chad Gould could close him down inside the box, the Spaniard finished this time with the right boot towards the second post for an incredible 3-2 lead.

Loyola’s offense further took a dip when Jeong went out with an injury in the 72^nd minute. The Sparks caught a break when Stallion midfielder Bervic Italia was sent off for accumulating two yellow cards. But they could not make any headway on the attack. The had two excellent chances to equalize but Matthew Hartmann and James Younghusband were unable to finish of a well-time runs and well-placed crosses.

James Younghusband was later sent off for dissent leaving both squads with 10 men on the pitch.

Stallion claimed a crucial fourth goal in the match’s dying minutes when late sub Nathan Alquiros booted in a cross by Lee Joo Young in the 97^th minute to peg the final score at 4-2.

The win vaulted Stallion to first place in the standings with an 8-0-1 record over idle Global that has a game at hand. Loyola fell to third with a 6-2-1 slate.

My take: This is undoubtedly a huge win for Stallion and a huge loss for Loyola. It is time to give props on what Hector Zaghi brings to the table. He showed promise with Team Socceroo two years ago and was looking to showcase his wares with Pachanga before the team was sold. That team was really struggling with parts that did not fit and coaching that did not work. Now with Stallion, given the playing time, he has helped Stallion. I’d say right now, he’s an underrated player as the attention goes to Rufo Sanchez, Ruben Doctor, and to an extent Lee Joo Young (can I throw in Daniel Matsunaga).

But Rufo Sanchez. Against Global, Jerry Barbaso had a tough day at the office (never see him have to go through that) that Sanchez had to be double or even triple teamed. But he would still get off some good shots.

Against Loyola, he was difficult to guard. He can back off his man, then is quick on the turn. He knows when to dribble or when to fire away. Even his passes are accurate.

The best player in the UFL right now? For sure.

Loyola. One year ago, their problem was the right back side. Now it’s the left back position. Roxy Dorlas is solid over there. I am just not a fan of their midfield defense that leaves him having to watch two attackers. Two goals were scored form this side once more (and as I recall so did the Kaya and Global goals come from there).

Matthew Hartmann and Simon Greatwich continue to play well. Jeong is a terrific player and maybe the third-best player on the team right now and his going out killed their offense with the others not functioning. But as I said and have written all season long, where Mark Hartmann goes so does Loyola. The younger of the Hartmann brothers and James Younghusband hardly had an impact on the game and that had to hurt.

Two draws and a loss? Should be a quota for them in terms of dropped points. Another loss or a draw could derail them.