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WHILE they emerged as Game Day 1 winners at the start of the Philippine Football League (PFL) season on Wednesday and earned the valuable three points for it, United City Football Club (FC) and Kaya FC-Iloilo admitted they are not in the way they were yet. they want to be and are looking to train later.
United City (formerly Ceres-Negros FC) beat Azkals Development Team 1-0, while Kaya also scored a 1-0 win over Maharlika Manila FC in the opening matches of the new PFL season at the Football Federation of the Philippines (PFF) National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
Mike Ott provided what turned out to be the marginal goal for United City in the 25th minute to ensure his victory in what was a physical match.
United City was in control most of the time with the young Azkals team having their moments here and there.
The match was marred by a red card when Manny Ott was penalized for a tough challenge to ADT player Troy Limbo in 84th minute, resulting in some commotion afterwards.
Manny Ott’s departure left United City with just 10 men for the entire match, but it didn’t matter as his team stood firm for victory. He will, however, have to wait for his next game.
Despite the victory, coach Franklin Muescan shared that they could have done better in the game, but he understood where his defenses were coming from with the long break and all because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Seven months we did not play 11 per side. We had no friendlies. We had no set-up games. For this first game, we still lacked pace to create opportunities, but I think there will be improvements to come, ”said Mr. Muescan at the Zoom Meetings post-game press conference.
Regarding the absence of Manny Ott for his next game, the United City manager said they will try to manage and ask other players to step up.
CAPITALIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES
Performance improvements on the field are also what Kaya will try to work on after his “passable” display in his season debut.
Coach Yu Hoshide said they could have taken more of the scoring opportunities that were presented to them and turn it into a more open win for them that could play an important role in a fast-paced tournament like the one at hand.
Midfielder Jayson Panhay scored the only goal of the game in the 29th minute.
“The important thing is that we got three points, but obviously we have to take advantage of our chances to score. Hopefully in the next games we can do that, ”he said.
In this season of the PFL, he has decided to shorten the procedures to better face the pandemic.
Each of the six competing teams will play each other once with the team on top at the end crowned champion.
The fourth season of the PFL is being run in a “bubble” configuration with the PFF National Training Center as the official venue for the game, while Seda Nuvali in Santa Rosa, Laguna, hosts the teams and the league during the duration of procedures.
There are strict health and safety protocols that all clubs must adhere to.
Day 2 of the PFL game occurs on October 31st with Stallion Laguna FC against Maharlika FC at 9 am, Mendiola FC 1991 against United City at 4:30 pm and Kaya vs. ADT at 8 pm – Miguel Angelo S. Murillo
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