MANILA – United City Football Club renewed its mastery of Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo with a 2-0 beating in the 2022 Philippines Football League on Saturday night at the PFF Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
Pocholo Bugas and Hikaru Minegishi scored a goal each in the second half as the four-time defending champions remained at second place with 13 points with four wins and a draw.
From a scoreless opening half, United City FC took a 1-0 advantage at the 57th minute mark with Bugas connecting from a fine finish from an assist by Tajikistani booter Amirbek Juraboev.
Late in the contest, United City FC was able to double its advantage as Minegishi scored on an open net after Kaya-Iloilo keeper Quincy Kammeraad failed to clear the free kick of Mark Hartmann in the 86th minute.
Kaya-Iloilo, the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara winners, remained at first place in the standings with 15 points with five wins and one defeat but their lead was reduced by United City.
Meanwhile, Turkish forward Arda Cinkir went on a goal spree as Dynamic Herb-Cebu Football Club cruised to a lopsided 7-1 victory over cellar-dweller Mendiola 1991 Football Club.
Cinkir was on fire in the opening half as he knocked down headers in the fourth and 22nd minutes and connected from close range in the 20th and 36th minutes as Dynamic Herb cruised to a 6-0 lead at the half.
Apart from the 20-year-old Cinkir, Jason Cordova and Chima Uzoka also converted a goal each in the 18th and 34th minutes, respectively, in the opening half for the Cebuano booters.
Japanese defender Ren Okuda tapped the ball home in the 50th minute to give Cebu its seventh goal before Mendiola got a consolation goal in the 67th minute courtesy of Cameroonian forward Junior Sam’s long-range strike.
Dynamic Herb-Cebu climbed to third place in the standings with 11 points behind three wins, two draws, and one loss, while Mendiola 1991 sits in sixth place with three points on the back of one win and four losses./PN
