Blue Guards F.C.
Full nameBlue Guards Football Club
Founded1965 (1965)
ManagerDodie King

Blue Guards Football Club is an amateur Filipino association football club that is one of the three guest teams that joined the fifth edition of the United Football League Cup. The team was able to compete in the group stages of the tournament with Dolphins United, Green Archers United, Loyola Meralco Sparks and Philippine Navy, but lost all of its games including a 33–0 defeat against Loyola.[1][2] This is regarded as one of the most lopsided scores in the history of the United Football League (UFL) since it began a semi-professional league in 2009.[3][4]

History

Blue Guards, founded by Johnny Romualdez, Victor Dualan and a group of friends, is one of three amateur guest football club that joined the 2013 UFL Cup, the other two are Bright Star and Manila Jeepney, some of their players are 40 years old and above featuring some of the members are their goalkeeper Samuel Letargo at 40 years of age, striker Noel Reyes at 48 and perhaps the Philippines' oldest active footballer Mindo Fajardo at the age of 80, also several other players have played for the national team during their times. This is the first time that a team that haven't played the third tier of Weekend Football League endeavor to join a top-flight competition like the UFL Cup.[5][6]

2013 season

In their first match, Green Archers United defeated Blue Guards in a 17–0 scoreline that formerly holds the record in most goals scored in the UFL before the match.[7] It was then followed by another loss against Philippine Navy in a huge 10–0 defeat.[8] On their third game, they faced Division 2 side Dolphins United with an 11–1 loss, this is the only game Blue Guards made a goal against their opponent.[9]

Blue Guards ended their run in the tournament at the bottom of the group standings with a −70 in goal difference in losing to all its matches in double digits.[1][10]

0–33 defeat to Loyola Meralco Sparks

Last 30 October 2013, the Loyola Meralco Sparks and Blue Guards battled in the group stages of the 2013 UFL Cup Group E. The match was played at the Emperador Stadium, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. It surpassed the largest winning margin in international association football which is a 31–0 victory of Australia against American Samoa and three goals shy of a 36–0 win of Arbroath over Bon Accord.

Match summary

Loyola Meralco Sparks33–0Blue Guards
Bonney 1'
P. Younghusband 2', 11', 19', 28', 62', 69', 80', 90'
Hartmann 8', 17', 18', 46', 55'
J. Younghusband 13', 22', 26', 56', 78'
Cañedo 15'
Lee Young 16', 33', 41'
Gould 48', 57', 66', 68', 79', 82', 87'
Morallo 54', 64'
Greatwich 85'		 Report

The match was started when Samuel Bonney scored a goal at the first minute. Then came in the next minute when Phil Younghusband scored his first goal of the game. Soon, after 15 minutes it is 6–0 for Loyola, goals by Matthew Hartmann, James Younghusband, his brother Phil and Robert Cañedo. At the eighteenth minute, Blue Guards got their first counterattack of the game, they breach the defense of Loyola to allow Roger Sulit to have a shot on goal, but it misses. The work continued by Lee Joo-Young and Matthew Hartmann enough to put their club by leading 15 goals. The team was able to hold the score in the last 15 minutes of the first half.[5]

In the second half, a tactical change happened for Blue Guards, they switched their formation into 8–1–1. But after two minutes, Matthew Hartmann scored the first goal of the half. Chad Gould subbed in the game and scored a goal from a free kick at the 48th minute. The scoreline reached 17–0. Gould scored 6 more goals, 3 goals each by Jake Morallo and James Younghusband, and 1 goal each by Simon Greatwich and Matthew Hartmann. Phil Younghusband finished the game by scoring in the 90th minute and in the final minute.[5]

Phil Younghusband scored 8 goals at the match which helped him to become the current scoring leader in the tournament at 18 goals, followed by Chad Gould at seven and five goals a piece to his brother James Younghusband and Matthew Hartmann.[2]

Match reactions

Many criticize about the format on accepting new teams in the cup, and suggest there should be a screening will take place next year.[5] Sparks' Director of Football, Randy Roxas, said after the game:

"Blue Guards FC is a club with a long history and they are passionate and proud when it comes to football. Some of their senior players were former national team players. We respect them and showed them respect by fielding our best players and playing the attractive attacking football we love to play.... the Sparks took this game seriously and prepared for it just like any other game. It was never about the scoreline. I spoke to some of their [Blue Guards] players after the game and they thanked us for the experience. The result of the game now sends a message to the other amateur clubs that this is a serious league. If a club wants to participate then they should be prepared and invest in the right resources to be competitive."[5]

— Randy Roxas

References

  1. 1 2 Sacamos, Karlo (30 October 2013). "No mercy Sparks whip hapless Blue Guards, 33–0". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Loyola demolishes Blue Guards in UFL, 33–0". ABS-CBN. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Manila Bulletin (1 November 2013). "Phil scores 8 goals in Loyola's 33–0 win". Yahoo! Philippines. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "Sparks blank foes, 33–0". Tempo (tabloid). 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Guerrero, Bob (31 October 2013). "Megablowout! Loyola batters Blue Guards 33–0 in UFL Cup". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  6. ↑ Guerrero, Bob (13 March 2013). "Footballer Mindo Fajardo: Still kicking at 79". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  7. ↑ Decena, Karl (20 October 2013). "UFL Cup: Loyola drowns Dolphins, 16–0; Green Archers demolish Blue Guards, 17–0". InterAKTV/TV5. Archived from the original on 23 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Decena, Karl (23 October 2013). "UFL Cup: Navy trounces Blue Guards, 10–0". InterAKTV/TV5. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Decena, Karl (28 October 2013). "UFL Cup: Phil Younghusband hits for six goals in Loyola's 9–0 rout of Navy". InterAKTV/TV5. Archived from the original on 1 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  10. ↑ Manahan, John Paul (31 October 2013). "Loyola Meralco Sparks, Green Archers United book UFL Cup KO round berths". Soccer Central Philippines. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
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