Mendiola 1991 and Stallion Laguna pulverized their hapless foes, defending champs Kaya-Iloilo emerged victorious in the battle of champions, and grassroots clubs Tuloy and Manila Montet were adored by fans despite losing efforts against the two Taguig-based teams at the opening weekend of the Philippines Football League (PFL) Season 6 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Iranian Mohebizadeh Seyedsajad was the early top scorer of the league with a hattrick for Mendiola, blanking Philippine Air Force, 7-0, on the second fixture Saturday.
On Sunday’s opener, the bayside squad walloped Don Bosco Garelli in similar fashion, with Cameroon’s Junior Sam scoring a brace alongside five other teammates.
Defending champions Kaya-Iloilo then re-affirmed its mettle as the league’s projected top dog, topping the returning 2020 champion United City Football Club (UCFC), 2-0, with an early goal from Ghanaian Eric Esso and an 81st minute goal line incursion by Janjan Melliza.
The two Taguig teams won their opening fixtures at well but their less touted opponents earned fan admiration.
On Saturday’s nightcap, Maharlika Taguig edged Tuloy, 3-2, with winger Raymon Abo willing his way for the winning goal, frustrating John Lloyd Jalique’s brace.
Tuloy, though, garnered much appreciation for their tiki-taka playstyle, video clips of such possessions going viral online.
Cameroonian strike Victor Nkoa led Maharlika with a brace in a torrid tete-a-tete with Jalique.
Newcomer but veteran-led One Taguig was also off to a winning start, blasting fellow newbie but less experienced Manila Montet, 4-1.
Montet, a majority rookie team, held Taguig to a scoreless first half with skillful saves from goalkeeper fan favorite Mark James Jones.
However, an early second half penalty goal by Tsukasa Shimomura opened the floodgates for Taguig, with Arnel Amita, Patrick Grogg, and Naoto Hiraishi scoring as well.
Still, the sky blue squad wowed the stadium and online fans with Dumaguete-native Henry Piñero outmuscling Ali Mahmoud on the 1v1, goaling against national squad keeper Quincy Kammeraad in the 84th minute.
In the other games, Manila Digger edged Philippine Army, 3-2, in the opening fixture with a Daiki Jahana game winner; and Abou Sy and Zamoranho Ho-A-Tham braced in Dynamic Herb-Cebu’s drubbing of Loyola, 4-0, in Cebu City.
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