Paolo Pascual kept a magnificent clean sheet to help Green Archers United (GAU) FC secure a monumental victory over Kaya FC last night in the second round match of the United Football League (UFL) Division I. In the process, Pascual bravely held the fort in the entire match by astoundingly recording 11 saves to spoil new Kaya coach Fabian Lewis’ debut.
Admittedly surprised by his accomplishments against what he thinks is a very good squad in Kaya, the 24-year-old keeper refused to take all the credit. Instead, he was thankful for his backline who aided him in surviving Kaya’s threatening advances. “I just really wanted to win and a clean sheet. Luckily we got the clean sheet,” Pascual uttered after the match. Kaya attempted to storm their way back into the game by whipping chance after chance against the disciplined GAU defense. When his teammates were starting to wear down, Pascual stepped up to preserve an enormous clean sheet. After the game, he thinks that his latest accomplishment will boost his confidence for their coming matches.
Delighted with his performance and the result, the Cebuano goalkeeper attributes his rise in form from GAU’s rigid daily training sessions which helped him stay sharp. “I think hard work paid off. I’m just happy that all the sacrifices we made paid off,” he pointed out. There are still six more games to go for GAU including a collision course with another upbeat squad, Manila Jeepney FC, on Saturday. Looking forward to it and the other matches in store, Pascual will maximize training to reap more rewards. “As long as you give 100% in training, I think it will develop in the game,” he concluded.
** Image courtesy of Icko de Guzman, football.com.ph
