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| Ivan Saldajeno |
MANILA--Robert Mendy exploded in the second half as Team Rest of the World defeated Team All-Filipino, 5-4, in the 2015 UFL All-Star Game at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
The Green Archers United winger scored a hat trick in the second half to seal the foreign players' win despite a late rally from the Philippine team made up mostly of players from the Azkals.
Mendy broke the 1-1 halftime tie in the 57th minute after sending a free kick past the All-Filipino wall and substitute keeper Patrick Deyto.
Stallion's Simone Rota tied the match anew in the hour mark after receiving a corner kick and sending the ball to the top of the net.
Kaya's Louis Clark put the Rest of the World up for good in the 79th minute before Mendy scored his last two goals in a two-minute span later in the half.
Ceres' Nate Burkey kept the match interesting for All-Filipino after scoring a penalty in the 85th minute and assisting on a goal by Loyola's Anton Del Rosario in the 90th.
His team, however, failed to score in stoppage time as Rest of the World escaped with the win.
Global's Misagh Bahadoran opened the scoring for All-Filipino in the seventh minute before David Icardo, Mendy's teammate at Green Archers United, equalized just before halftime.
Overall, UFL Technical Director Ritchie Gannaban was all praises in the festive day, when the Western Visayas Classic and a special game between UFL senior players and a selection of 100 UFL Youth League players also took place.
"[All the teams] put their heart out.... No one turned out to be a loser," Gannaban said.
Action in the UFL will continue on Tuesday with the start of the UFL Cup.
Stallion's Simone Rota tied the match anew in the hour mark after receiving a corner kick and sending the ball to the top of the net.
Kaya's Louis Clark put the Rest of the World up for good in the 79th minute before Mendy scored his last two goals in a two-minute span later in the half.
Ceres' Nate Burkey kept the match interesting for All-Filipino after scoring a penalty in the 85th minute and assisting on a goal by Loyola's Anton Del Rosario in the 90th.
His team, however, failed to score in stoppage time as Rest of the World escaped with the win.
Global's Misagh Bahadoran opened the scoring for All-Filipino in the seventh minute before David Icardo, Mendy's teammate at Green Archers United, equalized just before halftime.
Overall, UFL Technical Director Ritchie Gannaban was all praises in the festive day, when the Western Visayas Classic and a special game between UFL senior players and a selection of 100 UFL Youth League players also took place.
"[All the teams] put their heart out.... No one turned out to be a loser," Gannaban said.
Action in the UFL will continue on Tuesday with the start of the UFL Cup.
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