INQUIRER PHOTO/ RODEL ROTONI
MANILA, Philippines—Air Force Phoenix survived a shaky start to overcome Green Archers United, 3-1, Sunday night and advance to the semifinals of the United Football League Cup at the University of Makati pitch.
Veteran Yanti Barsales opened the scoring in the 35th minute, while Jezurel Tonog and Ian Araneta were on target in the second half as the Airmen forged a Final Four duel with defending champion Global, which nipped Pachanga, 1-0, Saturday night.
Defender Reynald Villareal scored a consolation goal for Green Archers from the penalty spot in the first minute of second half injury time, after Air Force goalkeeper Edmundo Mercado fouled Floriano Pasilan inside the box.
“It was a tough game for us,” said Air Force coach Edzel Bracamonte, who noted the improved performance by the Archers, who wound up seventh in league play last season.
“They (Archers) were more aggressive and better than us individually. They forced us to play long balls. But we were able to adjust and play our passing game in the second half.”
Kaya Cignal, which defeated Nomads Auction Manila, 3-0, will dispute the other finals berth against the winner of the clash between Loyola Meralco Sparks and Stallions FC.
The Sparks reached the quarterfinals after a 14-0 demolition of Sunken Garden United Saturday night at the Nomads Sports Club in Paranaque.
National team striker Phil Younghusband took his tally to 20 goals for the tournament with six goals against Sunken Garden.
Mark Hartmann also had four goals, while Jake Morallo and James Younghusband combined for three more for the Sparks, who face Stallions at 8 p.m. Wednesday also at UMak.
Davide Cortina and Alex Elnar also found the back of the net for the Sparks, who hardly showed any rust despite a month-long layoff.
The Archers put up a five-man backline to cancel out the threat posed by Araneta, Barsales and Chieffy Caligdong early on and used swift counter-attacks to cause trouble inside the Air Force penalty box.
Pasilan had a golden chance in the 18th minute, but he shot just over after a pass from Pasinabo put him one-on-one against Mercado.
Pasinabo was also guilty of wasting a chance as he fired wide on an empty net with Mercado already beaten.
The Archers were punished for missing those chances as Barsales headed home Caligdong’s corner kick from the near post 10 minutes before halftime.
A veteran of many international tournaments, Tonog pounced on a scramble inside the box, firing into an empty net in the 64th minute to make it 2-nil, before Araneta put the outcome beyond doubt five minutes later, slotting home from Randy Bela-ong’s cutback.
Air Force also needed an inspired performance from Mercado, who foiled Archers’ Nigerian midfielder Agbayomi Olowoyeye from close range in the 22nd minute and Pasilan on a one-on-one situation midway in the second half.
The Airmen, who swept all their games in the group stage, before ousting Manhur, 15-3, in the round of 16, look to avenge their 2-3 defeat to Global in last year’s finals when they meet on Dec. 6 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.