Language barrier no problem for rampaging Army

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the Babel of Voices in its ranks, Army-General Trias International continued its impressive showing as it grounded Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr, 2-0, to jump from sixth place to solo second behind leader Loyola Meralco Sparks in the First Division of the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium Thursday night.

John Cain poked in the first goal on the eighth minute after he pounced on a defensive lapse by Pachanga, the Cup runner up, before Korean Dae Han Kang sealed it after he connected on a high-looping header over Steve Yambou three minutes from time.

The win catapulted Army-GTI from No. 6 to No. 2 as it now has seven match points, two victories and a draw against one loss, or five points off the pacesetting Sparks. It relegated BC-bankrolled Kaya FC, Pachanga, Global FC and reigning League titlist Stallion FC down to second to sixth spots.

They did it despite the language barrier among players from various nationalities, including the Koreans.

“It’s not a problem because we just play the sport, we can feel each other,” said Army-GTI co-head coach Min Byung Jik.

Pachanga mentor Noel Marcaida was all praises for Army-GTI’s tremendous improvement while rueing their missed opportunities.

“They’re a very tough team. If you will remember, Army has a lot of holes last year but now with the addition of foreign players from General Trias, those holes have been plugged,” said Marcaida.

“My players really performed well. We just couldn’t score the goals. We have to take our chances,” he added.

In the only other match, Team Socceroo drew strength from Jeong Woo Lee’s late goal as it edged Pasargad, 1-0.

Socceroo’s win, its first ever triumph in the first division, pushed it from a share of last to No. 7 with four points.

“It feels great to get our first win,” said Socceroo assistant coach Rodrigo Davalos. “It was all or nothing. Plenus Pectus you know. We knew that if we stayed patient it would come.”

Pasargad slid to bottom with only a point to show.