MANILA, Philippines - Air Force FC smashed Cimarron, 7-0, and Nomads crushed Dolphins United, 5-0, to post their second straight victory in the Second Division of the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium Sunday night.
Former Azkals standout Ian Araneta scored two goals in a hurry early in the first half that helped sparked the rout for Air Force while Loic Toullec erupted for four goals in powering Nomads to the emphatic win.
The pair of victories sent Air Force, demoted to this level after a disappointing performance last year, and Nomads straight to the top alongside LBC-backed Manila Jeepney FC, and Agila FC with six match points apiece.
Cimarron absorbed its first defeat to fall into a share of fifth spot with Ceres-La Salle Bacolod and Forza FC while Dolphins United absorbed its second straight setback to slide deeper down the standings.
Forza FC made it there after it steamrolled Laos FC, 3-0, thanks to a brace by Gerald Pacquiao.
Araneta went on attack mode early as he scored a pair of rockets in just a three-minute span starting on the 14th minute for a 2-0 lead that Jimmy Vergarda stretched to 3-0 after coming through with a goal seven minutes before halftime.
Antonio Albor Jr., Neil Ryan Lirio, Jezurel Tonog and Vince Chester Braga then joined the shooting parade and scored in the second half to put the game out of reach.
Toullec was more merciless.
After Jamal Lord gave Nomads a 1-0 advantage on the 14th, Toullec turned man-possessed and scored on the 28th, 35th, 42nd and 56th to zap whatever fight left with Dolphins United.