MANILA, Philippines - Iloilo and Bacolod came out on top on a night of games the Visayas teams dominated the UFL Cup.
Double champion Iloilo Stallion made a mockery of suggestions it was no longer a force, while Ceres-La Salle overcame a slow start to destroy Agila FC.
Cebu Queen City United started brightly in the first match of the day, displaying the attacking prowess that was evident in its table-topping exploits in Group C – a run which included a 4-1 win over Stallion.
Missed chances would prove costly for them though, as their failure to convert spurred the champions on.
Bo Bae Park opened the scoring. Exchanging with Diego Barrera from a short corner, the Korean winger fired a low shot from just inside the box, beating the keeper at his near post.
Ruben Doctora Jr. added a second shortly after. Found with an exquisite through ball by Barrera that bypassed United’s back line, the Stallion captain used his pace to round the keeper before slotting the ball in. The two goals proved enough, as a frustrated Cebu couldn’t mount a comeback in the second half.
Later, Ceres-La Salle overcame going behind twice in the first half, before eventually routing Agila FC, 7-2. Having stunned Cebu in its final group game to secure passage into the Round of 16, Agila was full of confidence against the PFF Smart National Club champion.
Its enterprise resulted in Olayemi Bakare opening the scoring, brushing off a Ceres defender before poking the ball past the onrushing keeper.
Younousse Yaogo leveled the score shortly after, taking advantage of sloppy defending from a corner. But Agila was in a fighting mood, and it was back ahead two minutes later.
Bakare, inexplicably unmarked, headed in from close range. Jayson Panhay, though, ensured Ceres went into half-time level, scoring a pinpoint free-kick that beat the wall and sneaked into the near post.
The second half proved a completely different spectacle. Finding its form, Ceres was undeniable in the final 45, scoring five goals. Jin Ho Kim started the goal fest, taking full advantage of opposition keeper Marco Poli’s inability to catch a high ball, heading in to take the lead. Panhay then tapped in to get his second, before an unlucky Alvin Perez own goal put the contest beyond doubt.
Joshua Beloya added a sixth immediately after coming on as a substitute, beating Poli’s replacement with a delightful lob. Hwa Seo Park added more misery to Agila in stoppage time, cooly firing home from outside the box with the outside of his foot.
Stallion will next face the winner between Global FC and Navy FC, while Ceres takes on Union Internacional Manila in the next round.