MANILA, Philippines—Air Force Phoenix used a fluid attack to drub Navy Red Juice, 6-2, and reach the last 16 of the United Football League Cup last night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
National players Ian Araneta and Chieffy Caligdong scored two goals each, while former Azkals striker Yanti Barsales and Winnie Subere also found the back of the net in a clinical performance by the Airmen, who claimed their place in the knockout round with a game to spare.
Stallions FC drew a second-half hat-trick from Korean striker Kim Jae-woo and two goals from skipper Ruben Doctora in an 8-0 demolition of Cebu Queen City United in an earlier match in Group C.
With the win, Stallions wrapped up their group matches with 6 points, but their entry to the last 16 will depend on the match between Pachanga and Global scheduled today at the University of Makati pitch.
Despite going 3-0 up at halftime on goals from Lee Joo-yong, Pi Yong-jae and Vince Braga, Stallions refused to pull their punches as Kim made mincemeat of the Cebu defense, finding the target in the 55th, 65th and 68th minutes.
Doctora capped the rout with a clinical finish on a one-on-one against Cebu keeper Frederick Alazas and another well-placed strike two minutes later in the match aired live by AKTV on IBC13.
“We wanted to score as many goals as we can because goal difference matters,” said Stallions manager JR Robles.
Araneta opened the scoring in the 36th minute, latching onto a pass from Jezurel Tonog on the right side, before Caligdong doubled the edge at the stroke of halftime with a low shot from 10 yards after a flowing move involving Tonog and Randy Bela-ong.
“We wanted to use our speed against them because we saw that Navy had difficulty coping when we we’re pressing high in the first half,” said Air Force coach Edzel Bracamonte.
Navy substitute Reydric Viliran came close to slicing the deficit, but his close-range header just sailed over the bar three minutes into the second half.
Things turned from bad to worse for Navy in the 63rd minute when defender Rolly Perez was sent off for a blatant handball for a second yelow card.
Air Force immediately made the most out of the advantage with Tonog again providing the pass for Yanti Barsales to finish in the 65th minute, before Araneta and Caligdong struck in the 71st and 73rd minutes.
Araneta finished off a neat 1-2 with Jaylor Soriano on the right with a strong effort that bounced off the right side of the post, before Caligdong rounded out the keeper for his second goal.
As Navy grew weary, Winnie Subere capped the scoring for Air Force in the 84th minute with a header from close range. Navy can still clinch a last 16 berth with a victory over Laos FC next weekend.