Teknika trims Pachanga, enters PFF-Smart final

MANILA, Philippines - Teknika trounced listless Pachanga, 2-0, to secure the last finals slot in the PFF-Smart Club Championships at the University of Makati football field Wednesday night.

With team owner and national men’s football team manager Dan Palami keenly looking on, the Teknika booters banked on their solid defense and goals by Misagh Bahadoran (13th) and Izzeldin El Habbib (86th) in each half to earn the win and set up a championship showdown with Rizal-Smart San Beda FC.

The two-leg title series using the home-and-away format begins at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, with the drawing of lots to decide the “home” assignments of each squad to be done at the PFF today.

Just like the semifinals, admission to both matches is free, according to PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr. and Smarts Sports executive Epok Quimpo.  

“We really worked on our defense the previous three days and this was crucial to our win,” said Teknika coach Franklin Muescan, who used a “4-1-4-1” scheme to stymie their fellow NCR rival.  

“Misagh (Bahadoran) and Izzu (El Habbib) also did their job,” added Muescan, who calmly sat on the bench while Palami stood on the sidelines instructing his players on the field for virtually the entire match.

“As you could see, we really lacked cohesiveness in our play because we barely had time to practice as a team,” said Pachanga coach Norman Fegidero.

With the exception of Bahadoran, who outwitted two Pachanga defenders in center field to score a sizzling 30-yarder for the icebreaker, the game was mostly an African show.

Also standing out was Teknika goalie Kenneth Dolloso, who literally saved the day for his teammates on the few occasions that the backline was vulnerable.

Moments after Palami left for another appointment, El Habbib sealed the deal for Teknika, beating Pachanga goalie Patrick Deyto on a one-on-one to score from 35 feet on the right wing.

Out of frustration, Pachanga’s Cameroonian Yves Ashine hit Bahadoran in the head in the fourth and last minute of injury time of the second half, resulting in a red card.