UFL: Archers rip Pasargad; Kaya draws Pachanga

MANILA, Philippines — Green Archers United leaned on the heroics of Reynaldo Villareal to repulse Pasargad, 3-1, Saturday night even as Kaya was held to a frustrating draw by Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr in the United Football League at Emperador Stadiun in Taguig.

Ceres La Salle FC also extended its lead at the top of the second division with a 4-0 drubbing of Cimarron.

National player Patrick Reichelt sustained his superb form for the Bacolod side, scoring twice to match the output of substitute Younousse Yaogo.

Kaya grabbed only its first point in the last two matches with a 1-1 draw against Pachanga.

Iranian striker Shayan Jafari struck for Pachanga only for Miguel Tanton to cancel out the goal with a header off an Anton del Rosario throw-in in the 70th minute.

Kaya, which missed Chris Greatwich and OJ Porteria, remained in third with 21 points, but the powerhouse side is now eight points behind leader Loyola Meralco.

Deployed as a striker, Villareal—a rightback for most of his career—scored twice in the last five minutes to lift Archers to their second straight victory that pushed the once relegation-threatened side to fifth spot with 13 points.

New recruit Gelo Diamante opened the scoring for Archers, but Jerome Cuyos leveled for Pasargad with a close range shot just before halftime.

Villareal took his tally to three goals in the last two matches, wriggling free in a tight penalty box with a bullet of a shot to the top corner for the go-ahead goal. He settled the outcome with another brilliant effort from just inside the box.

“I really want him to play as a forward but we really lack defenders,” said GAU coach Rodolfo Alicante referring to Villareal’s attacking contributions.