Air Force Rider hopes to put title within grasp

Photo by Fritz Dalida

Air Force Rider aims to move closer to its second straight United Football League title today as it battles Army Fritz and Macziol IBM at the University of Makati pitch.

Foiled by Kaya last weekend, the Airmen can climb within a point of clinching the league title with a victory in the 6 p.m. duel with Army.

Air Force won their first-round meeting, 3-0, but their attack could be blunted as Ian Araneta remains doubtful with a groin injury.

Second-running Global Smartmatic faces Kaya Cignal  at 4 p.m. looking to stay within striking distance of Air Force.

Loyola Meralco hopes to keep it’s hopes of finishing in the top four alive as it tangles with  winless Navy at 2 p.m.

With 17 points and with three games remaining, Global, on an alarming run of four draws, can no longer afford to drop points if it wants to catch Air Force on top.

The Airmen have 23 points and a loss or a draw could set up a title-deciding match against Global next Sunday.

Led by top scorers Misagh Bahadoran and Izo El-Habbib, Globa blanked Kaya, 3-0, in their first round meeting.

But Kaya is also coming off a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Air Force last week when skipper Aly Borromeo headed home the winning goal in the 91st minute.