Football
UFL Division 2: Pachanga nails easy win over undermanned Forza
AKTV File Photo/Toto Gamboa
Forza FC made things easy for Division 2 leaders Pachanga FC, succumbing to a 3-0 loss midway through the first half due to lack of players, while Agila FC thumped Sunken Garden United FC, 8-2, at the United Football League action Saturday at the University of Makati.
Playing with only nine men did not help Forza in any way, as Pachanga scored two quick goals in the 4th and 5th minute of the match, then blasting another one in the 18th minute to pull away with a 3-0 lead.
Then, things got worse for Forza as its goalkeeper sustained a shoulder injury. Pachanga then asked officials to just end the match with still around 20 minutes into the first half, as it would be unfair for both of the teams to still play on, according to team manager Jojo Rodriguez.
Per UFL rules, at least nine players are required for a team to start a match, while at least seven men should stay to finish the match.
With the easy win, unbeaten Pachanga, who have won 18 matches with only one draw to show for 55 points, pushes its lead to eight points over second-ranked Diliman Victory Liner FC, who has a 15-2-1 win-draw-loss card for 47 points, for Division 2 supremacy.
But Rodriguez downplayed the huge margin and remains focused on their remaining three matches.
“We’re ahead of them one game,” Rodriguez told InterAKTV. “Our mindset is to win the next two matches.”
Diliman, which was scheduled to play Lions Meltique Beef FC in the 8 p.m. match, was moved to June 7 also at the University of Makati.
Meanwhile, Louie Potenciano propelled Agila to an 8-2 win over Sunken Garden to tighten its hold on the fourth spot.
Potenciano hit three goals in the match, two in the first half, while Mark Madrona and Al-Faizar Tahil each scored twice to lead help Agila notch their 12th win in 19 outings for 36 points.
In the opener, Union Internacional Manila edged Manila All-Japan FC, 3-2.
