Soriano steers Kaya past Green Archers United in fight-marred UFL game

By Karlo Sacamos

JANRICK Soriano spent the least amount of time on the field and yet, made the biggest impact.

Coming off the bench at the 87^th minute, the 24-year-old striker from Bacolod provided the spark that carried Kaya FC to a 2-1 victory over Green Archers United in a fight-marred game at the Emperador Stadium in Mckinley Hill, Taguig on Tuesday night.

Soriano capitalized on a botched clearance pass by the Archers by scoring the winner four minutes into second-half stoppage time as Kaya gained three points, and bounced back from its loss to Pachanga-Diliman last week.

“Basta ang inisip ko lang, pag pasa ng kasama ko, hindi na ko mag-iisip ng iba,” Soriano said. “Nagulat ako.”

OJ Porteria, hero in the Philippine men’s football team’s 1-0 friendly win against Myanmar in Yangon last week, also shone in his return to his professional club after firing Kaya’s first goal in the 27^th minute.

Play, however, was temporarily stopped for five minutes starting in the 75^th when a commotion, highlighted by Archer Elle Cagayanan kicking Kaya keeper Saba Garmaroudi, led to several ejections of players and officials of both teams.

Cagayanan was the hardest hit after being given a red card, while teammate Chieffy Caligdong, and the Kaya trio of Garmaroudi, Dario Dakic, and Okoro Ubiam were all booked with yellow cards.

Archers manager Monchu Garcia and Kaya coach Maor Rozen were also sent off for entering the field and participating in the melee.

The Archers’ seemed to have benefitted from the break as they equalized late in the game when play resumed, courtesy of an unintended shot by Tating Pasilan.

“The last goal we tried to give more space in our attack,” Rozen said. “That’s why we sent in Janrick for Alu (Kigbu). Alu worked very hard and I’m proud of him but we expected this (change in) situation and opportunity.”

“Kaya played well and we need to practice more passing,” Archers coach Rodolfo Alicante said. “Nakukuha namin yung bola pero pag pinasa na, mapupunta na sa opponent. I think we have to improve that area.” 

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