Green Archers repulse Army booters

MANILA, Philippines - Tating Pasilan and Shag Shapay Johnson took charge late in the second half as Green Archers United-Globe turned back Army-General Trias International, 4-2, to tie Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr at fifth in the First Division of the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium Tuesday night.

After John Cain scored on the 24th off a nifty cross by Roel Gener, the Globe-bankrolled Archers turned the one-goal deficit to a 2-1 lead following a pair of goals by Robert Waly Lopez Mendy, one coming just before halftime and the other five minutes into the second half.

Shin Seok Jeon then connected on a penalty shot made possible by Reymark Fernandez’s expert handling of the ball inside his own box that tied the count at two on the 68th.

Coming in as a substitute, Johnson blazed past his defender, fed Mendy, who back-heeled the ball back into his front that the Liberian controlled for a left-foot goal, giving the Archers back the lead, 3-2.

Pasilan then turned a looping cross from Arvin Soliman into a goal with that spectacular jumping volley for the clincher.

GAU thus tied Pachanga with 23 points while Army was left at No. 7 with 17.

“This game is very important to us because we are fighting for our placing in the First Division standings. Right now we are behind Stallion and tied with Pachanga on points. If we lost today, we fall down a notch with Army-GTI instead,” said Green Archers coach Rodolfo Alicante.

Pachanga clung to No. 5 after it escaped with a nerve-wracking 1-0 triumph over Pasargad in the only other match of the day.