MATCHES TUESDAY (Emperador Stadium)
5:15 p.m.—Pachanga Diliman vs Kaya 7:30 p.m.—Global vs Loyola Meralco
MANILA, Philippines – Pachanga Diliman dumped newly promoted side Team Socceroo, 2-0, Saturday night, even as defending champion Stallion was held to a 2-2 stalemate by Green Archers United at the start of the league competition of the United Football League.
Nate Burkey scored both goals for Pachanga, runner-up to Loyola Meralco in last month’s UFL Cup.
The former national team striker opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, before doubling the lead in the 62nd from the penalty spot, boosting his side past last season’s second division champions.
Stallion needed to fight back from a goal down twice to salvage a draw against a Green Archers side tipped to finally make its mark in the league this season.
It took seven minutes for Chieffy Caligdong to put Archers in front with a shot from the edge of the area, but last season’s double champions leveled through new recruit Hamed Hajimehdi’s penalty after Napoleon Bustillo was fouled inside the box.
Caligdong set up Gabriel Olowoyeye for Archers’ second in the 32nd minute, before new signing Rafael Gomez equalized anew with a left footed volley.
National club champion Ceres-La Salle debuted in the second division by crushing Navy FC, 4-0.