Green Archers pulls off UFL stunner, rips Army

Kristian Joergensen of Nomads Auction Manila tries to carve space against Air Force Phoenix in their Sunday game. INQUIRER PHOTO/ RODEL ROTONI

MANILA, Philippines—Green Archers United finally barged into the win column with a 3-1 stunning of Army Fritz and Macziol Monday night in the United Football League at the UMak field.

Goals from Shapay Johnson, Gabriel Olowoyeye and Nikko Villa secured maximum points for Archers, who moved up to eighth with four points.

National team standout Nestorio Margarse pulled a goal back for Army in the 50th minute, but Villa restored the two-goal lead by following up his own saved shot past Ed Sacapano five minutes later.

The loss stretched Army’s winless run to four games. Army has not won a match since its 2-1 upset of Global last Jan. 15.

With rains rendering the field slippery and soggy, the match turned out to be a scrappy affair with plenty of scoring chances.

Army had a couple of early chances with Meliton Pelayo just sending his header wide and Luisito Brilliantes managing just a tamed effort from close range.

Archers made Army pay with Olowoyeye and Johnson scoring in the space of two minutes.

Sacapano blocked Floriano Pasilan’s from close range, but the ball fell into the path of Arnie Pasinabo whose cutback found an unmarked Olowoyeye for a clinical finish in the 37th minute.

The goal came as a shock for Army which owned majority of possession in the second half.

But Archers sustained the pressure with Johnson scoring on a delicate chip over Sacapano for his second goal of the season.