There is a reason why football is played for 90 minutes and so.
Upstart JP Voltes FC continued its spectacular run, after upending former Cup champions Kaya FC, 3-1, in the dying minutes of the match and produced the biggest comeback win of the ongoing 2016 United Football League, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Kaya FC took reigns of the match from the kickoff as they attempted to attack with Robert Lopez-Mendy on the right flank, only for the shot to go wide. JP Voltes FC were not yet relieved of the pressure as the Kaya striker once again had a run towards the goal. The visitors’ keeper Nelson Gasic challenged Lopez-Mendy, but he was called for a foul.
For the second straight match, JP Voltes conceded an early penalty, which Kaya did not waste. OJ Porteria stood to the spot and put the yellow-shirts ahead with a well-placed shot to the bottom corner as Gasic guessed the other way.
Knowing of the implications of this match, both teams played more physical and aggressive. The resulting free kicks would not bear fruit; nonetheless, the opponents used these as opportunities for counter attack.
Kaya dominated the half with possession and even disrupted Voltes’ offense as they quickly intercepted the passes. The home side, with Kenshiro Daniels and Porteria on the initiative, deserved another goal to add to their lead. Nevertheless, the 2016 AFC Cup quarterfinalists could not finish off their several chances from the set pieces and counter attack.
On the other hand, JP Voltes playing coach Yu Hoshide was visibly frustrated with his squad, as they could not get it going on the offensive side. And Hoshide made sure the team would hear something at the break. He shared, “After the first half, we’re 0-1. I was very angry. At the dugout, I shouted a lot.”
That turned out to be the wake-up call for the men in stripes.
JP Voltes turned it around in the second half, and even had decent runs on both flanks. Masa Omura and Audie Menzi did well enough to keep the score line in their team’s favor with timely tackles and clearances.
Kaya were not devoid of chances, despite being on the back foot in this second period. Substitute Joven Bedic had a great chance at the 71st minute after firing from outside the box. Voltes’ Gasic charged towards the ball and collected the grounder to deny Bedic another one.
Having been presented several opportunities to score, JP Voltes finally got the equalizer with only eight minutes and change left in the match. At the 81stminute, Voltes won a corner as Bedic cleared out a probing ball from Hoshide. The playing coach took the corner kick and delivered it into the box. The ball bounced off the pitch and Takumi Uesato tapped the grounded ball into the goal mouth to tie the game.
The deadlock would not last long as JP Voltes took advantage of the sudden shift in the game’s momentum four minutes after. After winning a throw in, Hoshide sent the ball towards an unmarked Takashi Odawara. The latter blasted the ball past Micheal Acton for the go-ahead goal, 2-1.
Just when everyone in the stadium is still in shock of the fast turn of events, Uesato pulled off the biggest stunner of the night. The scorer of the equalizing goal intercepted the ball from the defense and once again saw Acton off his line. After two saved tries, Uesato would not be denied on his third attempt and lobbed the ball from their own half and into the goal for a huge 3-1 lead.
Kaya tried and failed to get one back, as JP Voltes completed a huge comeback and overtook their victims at fourth spot.
Hoshide was proud of his team and shared what he thinks was the key to that huge turnaround. “We train hard to run [and play] for 90 minutes,” he said. Hoshide also commented on the second goal from Uesato, “You always try. Sometimes you get luck, sometimes you get unlucky. He got lucky.”
Earlier, Forza FC broke their slump and registered their first win of the League, after routing Laos FC.
After several attempts at goal, Lionel Ndoe Mekong started the ball rolling for the orange-shirts at the 32nd minute. Not even a temporary halt due to lightning did not stop Forza on their tracks and in dominating the half. Only their final touches failed them; nevertheless they went into the break leading 1-0.
In the second period, Forza continued to control the pace of the match. At the 84th minute, the home side finally got their second goal match. Yoshiharu Koizumi sent a lovely ball into the box from a corner kick, which Hayato Aoki headed into the goal and past substitute keeper Oliver Moreno.
Stephen Burda then put on the finishing touches in the rout, four minutes after. The veteran launched a vicious attack towards Moreno, which the keeper failed to collect in time.
JP Voltes FC will attempt to keep the winning streak alive when they face another League giant, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC, on next Sunday, July 10 at 1:45pm. Forza FC will take on Pasargad FC in their bid for their second straight win, on Saturday, July 9 at 1:45pm.
On the other hand, Kaya FC will battle defending champions Ceres-La Salle FC in their next assignment. The two 2016 AFC Cup quarterfinalists duke it out next week, July 9 at 4pm. Ceres will meet Laos FC first on Thursday, July 7 at 4pm.
