Mendiola finally barges into PFL win column
AFTER six tries, Mendiola FC 1991 finally barged into the win column of the ongoing Philippines Football League season, beating Philippine Air Force FC, 3-1, in their battle of winless teams on Sunday at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Came out with a sense of urgency to begin the game, Mendiola sustained such mindset throughout to outsteady and outlast Air Force and bag the victory that improved it to 1-1-4 record and four points for the season.
Hamed Hajihmahdi put Mendiola on the scoreboard early in the match, scoring a goal inside the first three minutes.
They tried to build on it but no more goals would come for the rest of the opening half, leaving Mendiola settling for a 1-nil lead at the halfway point.
Mendiola kept the pressure on the Airmen to begin the second half, eventually rewarded in the 58th minute when Allen Angeles connected to push his team ahead, 2-0.
The team scored another goal 10 minutes later care of Jim Flores to make it 3-0 in the final 20 minutes of the match.
Air Force still tried to claw its way back and was able to narrow the gap at 3-1 after Romeo Martinez broke through in the 86th minute.
The count stood that way for the rest of the time though, handing Mendiola the win.
With the victory, Mendiola climbed to fifth in the standings while keeping Air Force (0-1-6) as the lone winless team right now in the PFL.
Kaya FC-Iloilo (5-1-0) remains on top of the heap with 16 points, followed by defending champion Ceres-Negros FC (4-1-0) with 13.
Stallion Laguna FC (3-2-1) is third with 11 points while Green Archers United FC (3-2-2) is fourth with 11 points.
Global Cebu FC (1-0-4) is sixth with three points. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo