Loyola passed its test of character on Sunday night at Rizal Memorial, having to grind through gritted teeth to nip past the Philippine Army by the odd goal in seven to register their second straight win in the league.
Playing against them for the first time in nine years seemed surreal for manager Roxy Dorlas and his Rambling Wolfpack, but the intensity of the Troopers’ rugged and hard-nosed play nearly got into their heads for most of the match until they finally got past it to take all three points and barge into the top eight.
Boris Kante put Loyola ahead thirteen minutes in when he fired in a cross that was directed to William Winter and went straight into Mark Bedia’s net for the opener.
However, Army equalized fifteen minutes later as winger John Celiz got past Dyango Echter on the left flank and tight-roped into the byline before the PFL veteran got his right-footed shot past Javi Coscolluella.
The Troopers eventually got ahead a minute before the first-half stoppage time as Celiz forced a mix-up between Echter and Coscolluella with his cross, and Jimuel Arriola pounced on it for a tap-in.
Loyola got their bearings back at the restart after making changes to improve their backline, as Kante then turned provider for their equalizer a minute before the hour mark.
The Cameroonian winger had a heads-up moment after Jemark Cortes’ clearance hit the corner flag and remained in play as he found Winter with a towering cross that saw the forward make no mistake with his header just outside the six-yard box.
Dorlas’ stroke of good luck with his changes continued, with Isaac Anoh opening his account in style to put Loyola ahead.
Ten minutes after coming on for Kante in the 70th minute, the former La Salle striker scored on his first touch when he poked home a bouncing cross from fellow sub Ousmane Sidibe, who came in for Winter to score his first professional goal.
Loyola conceded in a heartwrenching way in the second minute of stoppage time when Jalsor Soriano got a touch on Ricardo Becite’s free kick to make it 3-3.
But Army’s joy in holding for a draw was short-lived, as Anoh won the penalty barely two minutes later when he was clipped by Soriano inside the box.
Jorrel Aristorenas made sure of it afterwards, sending Bedia the other way from the spot with virtually the final kick of the match.
ARMY: Mark Bedia (GK), Soriano, Becite ©, Dorimon, Bernardo, Monterona, Ariola, Celiz, Roykent Bedia (Lunaspe 77’), Cortes (Akiapat 83’), Decena (Acedo 83’)
LOYOLA: Coscolluella (GK), Wade, Travis (Baña 70’), Beaton, Aristorenas, Kallukaran, Echter (Saludo 46’), Logarta © (Closa 46’), Asare, Kante (Anoh 70’), Winter (Sidibe 70’)
