Manila Metros

MATCH REPORT: November 9, 2019
WFL Matchday 5: Superbad FC 1-4 Manila Metros
Chelsea Blue Pitch 10:00am
Goalscorer (Assist): Larsen (Presyler) 13’, Uddenvaall (Obarijima) 38’, Uddenvall (Ryan) 67’, Obarijima (Okema) 79’

Man of the Match: Philemon Okema was a standout in a strong Metros performance with his supreme defensive work and his penetrative passing at the heart of many of the team’s best moves during the match.

On a very early hot Saturday morning the Manila Metros paid a visit to Superbad FC at the Chelsea Blue Pitch. Superbad pulled a double over the Metros last season and the visitors were focused on a better result this time around knowing that if they won and other results went their way the round would end with the Metros top of the table.

The match kicked off and the Metros were the stronger of the two sides. The Superbad keeper was drawn into action twice in the first ten minutes from a Eoghan Ryan volley and a Marcus Larsen effort from the edge of the box. The Superbad keeper had done well to this point but looked to be carrying an injury sustained in one of the dives.

For all the Metros intricate combination play in offense the breakthrough was very direct with Fausti Presyler’s long throw finding Larsen in the box to plant a strong header into the bottom corner past the keeper. Presyler coming up from centerback for his long throws have been a danger in every match this season thus far.

The Metros were finding a lot of joy down the flanks with Geja Rajagopal’s strong running and Jimmy Obarjima’s pace on the opposite wing causing headaches with the Metros midfield able to continually seek them. If not for a few questionable offside decisions by the linesman the Metros could have been further ahead.

Superbad began to show some of their attacking ability on the break and were starting to bring their strong forward into play. Francisco and Presyler were strong in containing him and therefore most of Superbad’s dangerous play with the rest of the team doing well to cover and limit their options.

An incident off the ball saw Metros centerback Presyler with a bloody nose after the Superbad forward had thrown his elbow into him. The referee and linesmen could not agree and eventually brandished a yellow. Presyler was taken out of the game and Metros original Visar Demar entered the match that saw a reshuffling of the Metros backline.

The Metros scored a well deserved second when Okema pinged a ball over the top to free Obarijima who attempted to lob the onrushing keeper. Chris Uddenvall was on hand to help it over the line to help the Metros to a two goal lead coming into half time.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was a bit flat with the Metros content to adsorb the Superbad offensive effort and looking to hit them on the break.

A loose pass in midfield allowed Superbad to loft a ball and catch out the Metros defense for a Superbad forward to finish smartly passed Turkish Firat Sen who was furious at the play leading up to the. The Metros for the most part had been in control of the match but with Superbad scoring to half their advantage they knew that they had a lot of work still to do.

Midway through the half the Metros had restored their two goal advantage with another long throw play. Marcus Larsen nodded on Preysler’s long throw to free captain Ryan who did well to send the ball dangerously across the goal. Uddenvall was on hand to turn in his second of the match.

Superbad were wearing out towards the end of the match and that opened up the game with Jimmy Obarijima squandering a chance to square to his strike partner Ryan before eventually scoring after being put through again by man of the match Okema.

As the referee blew the final whistle the Metros celebrated having secured another big three points in their mounting title challenge. With Manila All Japan dropping points away to Garreli, the Metros see themselves at the top of the league table entering a three week break before the first round of the WFL Cup.

MATCH REPORT: September 28, 2019
WFL Matchday 1: Inter Manila FC 1-1 Manila Metros
Circulo Verde Pitch 6:00 pm kickoff
Goalscorer (Assist): Ryan PK 8’

The Manila Metros kickoff their sixth season in the Weekend Futbol League away to Inter Manila FC at the Circulo Verde Pitch in Quezon City. The Metros enter the season after having experienced a bit of an indifferent pre-season. Their pre-season had a batch of mixed results and quite a few players recovering from injuries.

The Metros started off in control of the match and were dictating things in midfield as they were up against an obviously makeshift Inter Manila lineup. It was clear that the home team were struggling without some of their standout performers from the previous season.

The grass pitch was very cut up in places which caused the Metros some grief when in attacking positions. The bounce and movement of the ball along the ground made it challenging to play the kind of expansive football the team had been looking to implement this season. In xspite of this the Metros had the better of the early exchanges with their first real chance of the evening coming to the captain Ryan who was released from midfield by Moez Ben Ayad who has grown into his new role this year as a number 10 in behind the forward. Ryan was set through behind the opponents only for his lob over the keeper to go wide. Warning signs for the home team.

The Metros were seeing much joy down the wing with quick interchanges in midfield setting up for a switch to the other side which saw widemen Geja Rajagopal and new signing American Kevin Skinker repeatedly cause Inter Manila’s full back headaches. Several opportunities were crafted from these situations but nothing clear cut was materializing just yet.

Inter Manila were looking to play through their best player who at the base of their midfield was moving the ball along before inevitability looking to play it long for their forwards. The Metros backline has seen some recruitment over the off season and one of the recruits Norman Francisco showed his quality filling in at left back. Collectively the defense was able to keep Inter Manila at arms length.

The half ended with the Metros in control but with the score still set to 0-0 the team knew they would need to create more and be more clinical to come home with the crucial 3 points.
The Metros started the 2nd half with their pressing reaping benefits after Francois Delas robbed the opponent’s left back to slide in Ryan behind the backline. Unselfishly Ryan square it for Obarijima, on as a sub, who was taken down by the keeper. Penalty quick awarded to the Metros. Ryan stepped up take authority and calmly dispatched the penalty to set the Metros up nicely not even five minutes into the second half.

The Metros sat back and with their lead absorbing the long balls that Inter Manila were throwing at them while looking to play on the break. A few opportunities to go further ahead were fashioned from these break aways only for the pitch to cause an awkward bobble to put off the Metros attacker.

With 15 minutes left in the match and with the Metros in complete control a lapse in concentration cause Metros goalkeeper Firat Sen to handled a backpass to give Inter Manila an indirect freekick in the box. Inter Manila were able to score in the scramble ensuing the free kick and just like that the Metros were level again in a match which they had complete control in.

With the pressure on the Metros were looking for the winner they felt they deserved but were unable to score again in the match. In the final moments Inter Manila had an opportunity to score against the run of play but thankfully the shot sailed over the bar.

The game ended in a draw but it very much felt like a loss for the Metros given the performance they had put in. Not the worst result for the opening game of the season but the club know they have a lot of work to do as there are no easy points in this division. On to the next one.

***The club was later advised that Inter Manila had defaulted the match due to incomplete player registration requirements. The result has been adjusted to reflect a 3-0 win to the Manila Metros.

MATCH REPORT: October 5, 2019
WFL Matchday 2: Manila Metros 5-2 Garelli United
McKinley Stadium 2:00 pm kickoff
Goalscorer (Assist): Ryan PK 8’, Ezequiel 37’ (Okema), Flodman 62’ (Mijares), Ryan 75’ (Ezequiel), Ryan 82’ (Ezequiel)

Man of the Match: In a match where several of the Metros could have won the award it has to go Chris Uddenvall from center midfield. His tenacity and ability to maintain possession under pressure provided the platform for much of the team's positive play. Dominant.

The Manila Metros came into this game with an opportunity to build some momentum coming into next week’s match against WFL Cup holders Manila Hurricanes. Today’s opponents, Garelli United were mainstays in the WFL and were competing at the very top. This season they are back in Division 1 after a one year sabbatical. They lined up with a very different squad reflecting the club’s new emphasize on youth development.
The opening exchanges showed Garelli’s comfort on the ball as they looked to keep the ball with the Metros happy to remain compact and look to hit Garelli on the break or press them in key areas of the pitch.

Within the first ten minutes the Metros pressing paid dividends as Geja Rajagopal nicked the ball off the Garelli fullback in their defensive third to drive down the line and whip in a dangerous cross. The cross was awkwardly handled by the opponent’s CB and struck him clearly across the arm. A penalty kick was awarded without much debate given the change in FIFA rules. Captain Eoghan Ryan stepped up to slot home his second penalty of the season to give the Metros a smart start to the game.

Garelli were not phased by going down so early and continued to work their way into the game with their possession based football. A bit of confusion at the back allowed them to respond with a goal of their own to make the match all even before the half hour mark.

Looking to alter the course of the game some changes were made with last season’s second top scorer Jimmy Ezequiel as well as midfielder Philemon Okema coming on. The subs combined shortly after with a signature Metros breakaway with Ezequiel beating the offside track to latch onto Okema’s long through ball to finish coolly to put the Metros ahead before the break.

The second half started off badly as the Metros conceded to a Garelli wonderstrike from outside the box only a few minutes after the restart.

The mentality of this reshaped Metros squad would be tested now. Ryan headed in from a freekick only to have the goal questionably deemed invalid due to the slightest of touches on the opposing defender.

New signing Alex “Toni Kroos” Flodman powered home a header from other new signing Hamo Mijares pin point corner to put the Metros back on top.

After the third goal it was all the home team with another two goals had by the captain both from his strike partner Ezekiel’s hard work down the right flank.

At full time the Metros celebrated another 3 points in this season’s competition in a match that was nervy at times but showcased the difference in mentality of this team compared to last.

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