UFL CUP: Air Force, Nomads score, gain quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines—Air Force Phoenix FC and Nomads Auction Manila booked their spots in the last eight of the United Football League Cup with contrasting victories Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

National team striker Ian Araneta fired seven goals to propel the Airmen to a 15-3 rout of Manhur FC, while Nomads squeezed past a Pasargad side, 1-0, to also reach the quarterfinals.

Skipper Randy Musters, a Dutch national, scored the only goal in the 71st minute as Nomads set up a showdown with the winner of the match between Kaya Cignal and Team Socceroos. Both matches were aired live by AKTV on IBC13.

Pasargad’s best chance came on the counter-attack early in the first half when Peter Nudupuechi found himself one-on-one against Nomads goalkeeper Jeff Blake, but the Nigerian striker can only shoot wide.

Nomads were finally rewarded for keeping possession for long stretches as Musters’ free kick—that looked more like a cross—found the back of the net, breaking the deadlock.

The absence of coach Edzel Bracamonte and striker Yanti Barsales, who are both part of the coaching staff of the Under-23 Azkals in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, hardly mattered for Air Force, which faces the survivor of the last 16 duel between Green Archers United and Lions Meltique Beef in the quarterfinals.

Playing under the rain that left some areas in the field flooded, Chieffy Caligdong still contributed three goals, while Jaylor Soriano scored two more for the Airmen, who also drew a goal each from Reymark Palmes, Randy Bela-ong and Joebel Bermejo.

Underlining his status as one of the country’s finest strikers, Araneta banged in four goals in the first half as Air Force, showing better fluidity in their game, attacked right from the get-go.

And their fears proved true early as Palmes opened the scoring for the Airmen in the fourth minute, intercepting a loose pass inside the box to slot home past Manhur keeper Trigil Ginibi.

Manhur cashed in on its rare chances with Chac Cuaresma, Anthony Emperado and Belgian striker Dieter Vangruderbeek also scoring past Air Force substitute keeper Erl Tomodos.