MANILA – United City Football Club secured the 2020 Philippines Football League (PFL) crown despite a match to spare following their 7-1 victory over Stallion Laguna Football Club at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite last night.
Bienvenido Marañon finished the game with a hat trick, Mike Ott chipped in with a brace while Takashi Odawara and Jose Elmer Porteria added a conversion each for the United City FC.
It was the fourth consecutive league championship for United City, which took over the franchise of Ceres-Negros FC a few months ago. They also earned the right to represent the country in the 2021 Asian Football Confederation Cup.
United City opened the scoring at the sixth minute as Ott glided through the defense and flicked on a Marañon through ball. Stallion Laguna responded six minutes later with Ibrahima N’Dour scoring past United City keeper Anthony Pinthus.
United City regained the edge at the 25th minute with Odawara heading the ball from a corner kick by Hikaru Minegishi. The lead blew early in the second half with conversions from Ott and Maranon at the 52nd and 58th minute mark respectively.
Goals continued to pour in for United City midway in the second half with Marañon connecting his second and third goal at the 66th and 74th and Porteria scoring from far post at the 71st minute.
With the result, United City FC now has 12 points on four victories, and regardless of the outcome of their final match against rival Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo on Monday night, they will not be moved from the top spot.
Kaya-Iloilo lost their chance to challenge for the PFL championship after settling for a scoreless draw with Mendiola FC 1991 earlier in the day. Kaya-Iloilo stayed at second spot with eight points on two wins and two draws.
In the day’s other match, Azkals Developmental League heated up in the second half as they topple Maharlika Manila Football Club, 5-0, to move up to third place in the standings with six points on two wins and two losses.
After Friday night’s matches, Maharlika Manila dropped to fourth spot in the standings with three points on one win and three losses, while Stallion Laguna and Mendiola are at fifth and sixth with one point each on one draw and two losses./PN
