 |
Tating Pasilan haunted against his former club, netting the winner. Nevin Reyes/UFL
|
By Julian Reyes
MANILA-- Green Archers United successfully came back from a goal down to deal powerhouse Ceres its second loss of the season in in their second round duel in the 2016 United Football League at Rizal Memorial Stadium late Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Hossein Doustdarzefidmazgi and Tating Pasilan capped the GAU's magnificent comeback with a 2-1 win which avenged their 1-7 beatdown aginst the defending champions last month.
This was the Rodolfo Alicante's first league win over the Busmen, in which they put an end on their long losing run against them to seven, with their last win over the Bacolod side in the 2013 UFL Cup quarterfinal.
The upset win also spoiled Risto Vidakovic's official debut for Ceres, in which he took over from now club director Ali Go for the rest of the season
Hossein opened a Green Archers United vicious rally when he converted a Reynald Villareal's pass to equalize ten minutes before half-time.
However, the Iranian found himself screaming in pain with an injury three minutes at the restart which forced him to get sidelined the rest of the way.
Bucking the absence of the flashy midfielder in the second half, GAU did a good job standing on their ground with skipper Pasilan taking all the matters into his hands.
Going into the match as second half sub, the former Azkal almost completed a heroic play for the Green Archers just four minutes after he subbed in but his shot got deflected by Ceres' goalkeeper Louie Casas.
The wily veteran did not give up however as he continued his aggressive display against the defense of the second-ranked Ceres, and was rewarded with the go-ahead strike in the 73rd minute on a counter from a cleared Ceres free kick that beaten Casas in the far post.
GAU held their nerve for the rest of the match with tremendous defensive stops in the next 17 minutes, making a huge dent on the title-retention hopes of Ceres which is just three points behind of leaders Global, who were set to face Forza on Wednesday.
League's leading goalscorer Adrian Gallardo scored Ceres' lone strike, a penalty inside 13 minutes after William Ebanda fouled Stephan Shröck inside the penalty box..
.jpg)
