UNITED City Football Club (FC) takes on Stallion-Laguna FC on Friday looking to solidify its hold of the top spot in the ongoing Philippines Football League (PFL) tournament.
League-leading with nine points from an unblemished 3-0-0 record, United City (formerly Ceres-Negros FC) tries to make it four wins in as many matches in its 8 p.m. collision with the Stallions (0-1-1) at the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) National Training Center in Cavite, and move closer to another league crown.
It was dominant in its last game on Tuesday, lording it over Maharlika Manila FC, 10-0.
OJ Porteria and Robert Lopez Mendy each had a hat-trick with Mike Ott adding a brace in their latest win.
Bienvenido Marañon and United City skipper Stephan Schrock accounted for the two other goals in their victory, which pushed them two points clear of second-running Kaya FC-Iloilo (2-1-0).
Mr. Ott opened the scoring spree for United City in their last match, finding the bottom of the net in the 16th minute.
The team doubled its lead at 2-0 a few minutes later, care of Mr. Maranon (19’).
Mr. Schrock joined the scoring parade in the 33rd minute, followed by Mr. Porteria in the 39th minute to make it a 4-0 lead for United City at the break.
The United City juggernaut continued in the second half with Mr. Lopez Mendy connecting three consecutive times in the 49th, 57th, and 63rd minute to make it a commanding 7-0 lead. Messrs. Porteria (71’ and 75’) and Ott (73’) completed the double-digit rout thereafter.
“The best way to show respect to the opponent is giving it our all from 1 to 90, and that’s what we did,” said Mr. Schrock post-match as he talked about the mindset they have as a team in the tournament.
Meanwhile, out to crash United City’s party is Stallion-Laguna, which is coming off a 1-1 draw against Kaya in its last game.
The Stallions turned things around in the second half against Kaya on Tuesday, making up for the goal they gave up early on in the contest through an equalizer by Jhan-Jhan Melliza in the 80th minute.
The team was happy with its improved performance, something it hopes to extend against United City.
Also taking the field on Friday are Kaya versus Mendiola FC 1991 at 9 a.m. and Maharlika against the Azkals Development Team at 4:30 p.m.
The ongoing season of the PFL is being done in a bubble setup for two weeks.
The team on top in the end will be crowned as champion.
The PFF National Training Center is the official game venue while Seda Nuvali in Santa Rosa, Laguna, houses the teams and the league for the duration of the tournament.
During the tournament, all clubs are asked to strictly adhere to health and safety protocols prescribed for the league.
PFL matches can be viewed over the PFL Facebook page. PFL YouTube Channel, 1Play Sports, EXPTV Channel and www.PFLTV.ph. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
