La Salle Bacolod edges Diliman to top UFL Group A

MANILA, Philippines – Ceres-La Salle Bacolod turned back Pachanga Diliman, 2-1, to top Group A and lead the march to the next round of the United Football League Cup at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City Tuesday night.

Korean Jin Ho Kim poked in the first goal of the match late on the 34th minute after Pachanga goalie Steve Yambou mishandled the ball off a corner kick before Jalsor Soriano made it a 2-0 lead at halftime following a 41st-minute rocket.

Ariel Zerrudo, Jr. kept the Pachanga booters in the game after unleashing a brilliant goal on the 57th but it was the best they could offer as the Ceres-bankrolled club kept their defensive wall intact and preserved their third win against a loss to finish their bracket at No. 1 with nine match points.

Despite the loss, Pachanga, which wound up at No. 2 with seven points on a two wins and a draw against a defeat, will advance along with idle LBC-backed Manila Jeepney FC, which ended up at No. 3 also with seven points.

In the other Group A match, Phl Army scored three goals in the second half to overhaul a three-goal deficit and forced a 3-3 draw with Laos FC to finish with four points and No. 4 in its bracket.

But the Armymen could end the best fourth place finisher from all five groups that should propel it to the next stage.

After Mohammad Ghasemi uncorked a brace and Patrick James Franksson scored in a span of 14 minutes starting on the ninth to give Laos an almost insurmoutable 3-0 lead at the half, Army responded with Nestorio Margase, Jr., Jeoffrey Lobaton and Romano Vestal striking goals to forge a standoff.