Air Force XI wards off Navy

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Air Force Phoenix leaned on striker Ian Araneta’s heroics as it turned back Navy Red Juice, 2-1, to keep its slim hopes alive in the First Division of the United Football League at the University of Makati field over the weekend.

Pasargad, meanwhile, held a heavily favored Stallion Gilligan side to a scoreless draw, enabling Loyola Meralco Sparks, which downed LBC-backed Kaya, 2-0, at the Rizal pitch, to seize the solo lead with 12 points.

Stallion settled for 10 points behind Loyola, spearheaded by Phil and James Younghusband, while Kaya stood just a point behind Stallion with nine points on three victories in four outings following that heartbreaking loss to Loyola.

Pasargad improved to two points.

Korean Lee Joo Young, who currently leads the league in goals scored with six ahead of the Younghusbands with four apiece, failed to get on a scoring act against the tough Pasargad defenders.

Araneta, meanwhile, unleashed a pair of goals in just a nine-minute span early in the second half to power the Airmen, also the Cup titlists, to their first win after two stinging setbacks and a draw.

The victory thus propelled the Air Force Phoenix from a share of ninth to solo seventh with four points.

The Navymen tried to salvage the match following a goal by Marlon Pinero just a minute left in regulation but failed to knock in the equalizer in injury time for their third loss against a draw.