Ceres takes UFL Group A top spot with win over Green Archers

Jaelle Nevin Reyes

MANILA, Philippines - Ceres La Salle FC took the number one spot in Group A amid the forthcoming end of the group stage of the United Football League (UFL) FA League Cup after brushing away Green Archers United FC, 3-0, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium (RMFS) on Tuesday, October 21.

The newly promoted division one team proved that they are hungry to bring home the inaugural FA League Cup plum with an unblemished record with just a game remaining in their tour of duty in the tournament.

Ceres came hot out of the gates sending shot after shot to the defense of the Archers early in the first half.

To finally open the scoring for his club, Jin Ho Kim tipped in a striking header off a pass from teammate Orman Okunaiya in the 20th minute of the match to take the lead for his squad.

Answering on the other side of the pitch, veteran Chieffy Caligdong, with the help of Robert Lopez Mendy, sparked an outburst for the Green Archers but the former’s first shot at goal went above the crossbar.

As play continued, several more attacks from the Archers’ frontline came to batter the tough defense of Ceres spearheaded by Lopez Mendy and Caligdong but none came through.

Another shot found the back of the net for the dominant offense of Ceres as Adrian Gallardo capitalized on a through pass from midfield to strike his way into a goal and extend the lead of his team to 2-0.

Not long after his first raid on the defense of the Green Archers, Gallardo once again found a gap in their adversaries’ defense to give Ceres a 3-0 advantage going into the halftime break.

The exhausted offensive front of the Green Archers valiantly fought to ignite a comeback in the dying minutes of the second half but their attempts failed to connect as Ceres keeper Louie Casas went unbothered in manning his post in front of goal.

Meanwhile, Pachanga Diliman FC shook off Philippine Army FC, 3-1 to book their third victory in the tournament.

Also, Laos FC defeated the hapless Forza FC, 2-0, while Manila All-Japan FC outmatched the undermanned Dolphins United FC, 20-0, to slip their way into the quarterfinals.

The last leg of the group stage for the opening tournament in this year’s UFL season will be on Thursday, October 23 with matches between Philippine Army FC and Ceres La Salle FC, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and Stallion FC, and the anticipated match-up of Global FC and Kaya FC. All games will be held at the RMFS. - 

Rappler.com