PAF-Phoenix bags UFL Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Air Force-Phoenix showed it’s truly a dominant force in the United Football League, shutting out high-scoring Loyola Meralco Sparks FC, 2-0, last night to cop the UFL Cup at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Homegrown Ian Araneta (40th) and ageless Yanti Barsales (90th) delivered the goals while the Airmen’s defense-line, led by custodian Edmundo Mercado, played solid as they thwarted the Sparks en route to their third title in the league.

“The boys deserved this. They played hard on defense and offense, basic football,” said PAF coach Edzel Bracamonte, whose side previously won two League Cups. 

“Before the start of the tournament, we saw the lineups and we said we’re the champions, we should train and play like champions. No matter how strong the rest are, if we play our best, the result will come,” added Bracamonte, who took over the reins from former mentor Edwin Cabalida this year.

Araneta broke the ice with a great finish off a nifty pass from Randy Bela-Ong, triggering fireworks and celebration from the PAF gallery in the 6,000-strong crowd.

Phil and James Younghusband spearheaded the Sparks’ offensive charge, but hounded by the resolute defense of PAF and a little bit of bad luck as their attempts were either blocked or saved, going wide or hitting the post. 

James actually scored on a header off a corner on the 52nd but their merry-making proved short-lived as officials nullified the goal due to “wrong placement of ball.”

There was even an instance when Meralco had three clear successive attempts, with Mercado denying Younghusband’s header, Jake Morallo’s rebound getting blocked and Alexandro Elnar’s followup hitting the bar.

Barsales, 38, put the icing on the cake with a cool shot from 20 yards right before end of regulation play, eventually earning the Golden Ball (MVP) award.

Teammate Mercado took the Golden Glove Award (Best Goal Keeper) while Phil Younghusband (25 goals total) copped the Golden Boot Award (Best Striker).

“We also want to prove something as homegrown players (against Fil-foreigner-reinforced Sparks). We likewise want to show that Air Force is No. 1 in the Philippines,” said Mercado, a former Azkal keeper.

In the first game, Izo El Habbib scored the marginal strike as Global FC edged Kaya Cignal, 2-1, to clinch third place honors.

Keeping possession and maintaining his balance against two defenders, El Habbib found some space to roll in a left-footer in the 74th minute as Global held on to the hairline victory.

Global actually drew first blood via William Espinosa Guiredonn’s 12th minute connection, a lead it managed to protect until the 54th minute when a foul inside the box by goalie Paolo Pascual on Lexton Moy put Kaya into position to level things.

Anton del Rosario pounced on this opportunity, sending Pascual the wrong way to knock down the equalizer off the penalty.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami, who usually makes up the numbers when players are lacking at Azkals’ practices, saw action for Global FC, playing the last eight minutes for the former champions.