Football
UFL Week 16: Pachanga remains unbeaten in second division
AKTV/Toto Gamboa
With the 1-1 draw between Nomads Auction Manila and Green Archers Globe the only game played in Division One, let’s take a quick look at the second tier of Philippine football, where Pachanga is currently on track to joining the top flight.
Although overwhelming favorites for promotion, being five points clear of nearest rivals Diliman Victory Liner with only four games remaining, passage into the next division is mathematically not yet guaranteed for Pachanga.
On Saturday, they took one step closer to their goal with a 7-0 demolition of Manila All-Japan, the same scoreline as their clash in the first round. Oussenynou Diop managed a hat-trick, while Division Two leading scorer and former Philippine national team player Freddy Gonzalez pushed his tally to 29 goals after scoring a brace. Jovin Bedic opened the scoring early on, with Robert Canedo also on the scoresheet.
Pachanga remained unbeaten in their campaign with 17 wins and a single draw, smashing home a spectacular 106 goals and conceding only seven in the process.
Should Pachanga manage to lose one, or draw two of next three games, however, their June 23 match against Diliman could still become a Division Two title decider – granted, of course, that the second-running squad wins all of its matches in the lead up.
Team Socceroo almost extended the gap at the top to eight points, had it not been for an incredible collapse in the final 15 minutes of their match against Diliman. Romeu Rodriguez had scored twice to give Soceroo a comfortable cushion, but Rey Behag pulled one back to start a spectacular comeback. Ariel Zerrudo capitalized on some slack defending to equalize from a corner on the 82nd minute, and three minutes later George Twum completed the turnaround.
The 3-2 win kept Diliman’s faint promotion hopes alive.
In other results, Cebu Queen City destroyed Laos 6-1, Dolphins United sneaked past Agila FC 1-0, and Forza relied on two early goals to down Sunken Garden United 2-1.
Josue Jamlang covers football for InterAKTV and announces matches for AKTV on IBC. He served as an assistant technical director for the UFL during its maiden season. Follow him on Twitter for more football discussion.
