MANILA, Philippines – Army-General Trias International continued its impressive showing as it grounded Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr, 2-0, to jump from sixth place to solo second behind leader Loyola Meralco Sparks in the First Division of the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium Thursday night.
John Cain poked in the first goal on the eighth minute after he pounced on a defensive lapse by Pachanga, the Cup runner up, before Korean Dae Han Kang sealed it after he connected on a high-looping header over Steve Yambou three minutes from time.
The win catapulted Army-GTI from No. 6 to No. 2 as it now has seven match points, two victories and a draw against one loss, or five points off the pace-setting Sparks, while bumping off LBC-bankrolled Kaya FC, Pachanga, Global FC and reigning League titlist Stallion FC down to second to sixth spots.
And they did it despite a language barrier, having infused players from various nationalities, including Koreans.
"It's not a problem because we just play the sport, we can feel each other," said Army-GTI co-head coach Min Byung Jik.
Pachanga mentor Noel Marcaida was all praises of Army-GTI's tremendous improvement while ruing their missed opportunities.
"They're a very tough team. If you will remember, Army has a lot of holes last year but now with the addition of foreign players from General Trias, those holes have been plugged," said Marcaida.
"My players really performed well. We just couldn't score the goals. We have to take our chances," he added.
In the other match, Team Socceroo drew strength from Jeong Woo Lee's late goal as it edged Pasargad, 1-0, that sealed the former their first ever triumph in the first division while pushing it from a share of last to No. 7 with four points.
"It feels great to get our first win," said Socceroo assistant coach Rodrigo Davalos. "It was all or nothing. Plenus Pectus you know. We knew that if we stayed patient it would come."
Pasargad slid to bottom with only a point to show.