Vergara’s heroics tows Air Force to UFL semis

MANILA, Philippines – When former star Chieffy Caligdong left for greener pasture, recently relegated Philippine Air Force was left in need of a star. After a year of heartbreak, the Airmen found one in a gutsy Jimmy Vergara.

More than a week after scoring the match-clinching goal in a shock win over Kaya FC, the lightning-quick Vergara gave a reprise of his heroics and came through with another game-winner as Air Force down Union Internacional Manila, 1-0, to gatecrash into the semifinals of the UFL Cup at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City Thursday night.

With both clubs yet to score with just a little over three minutes remaining in extra time, Vergara, a Barotac Nueva native like Caligdong who is with Green Archers United-Globe now, answered the call as he volleyed a left-footed rocket off a nice looper of a pass by Joel Bello-allo straight out of Union goal-keeper Paolo Pascual's reach.

It was all the Airmen, who were relegated to the second division after a forgettable League performance early this year, needed to snatch the win and extend their fairy tale run for another match.

And lightning struck twice for Vergara, who also fired the decisive goal in a stunning 1-0 triumph over Kaya FC in the round-of-16 last Nov. 19.

The win thus sent Air Force, the only club that won both a Cup and League crown since the league re-formatted four years back, straight to the semis where it will tackle a dangerous Pachanga Diliman side, which unseated last year's Cup titlist Stallion FC with an entertaining 5-3 win earlier, on Dec. 3.

Andrew Gerard Santiago paced Pachanga Diliman with a brace, the first he launched and connected right on the first minute of the match and the other coming on the 64th minute when his team built a two-gaol cushion.

After Santiago and Ousseynou Diop zoomed to an early 2-0 advantage , Mario Javier Clarino and Jim Junior Munoz quickly answered with a goal apiece on the 18th and 32nd, respectively, to knot the count at two each going into halftime.

But Reza Amirkhizian and Santiago sent Pachanga Diliman's lead back to two, an edge they kept until the end after Ariel Zerrudo, Jr. responded to a 67th minute goal by Stallion's Reuben Doctora, Jr. with a goal himself on the 82nd.