Army Fritz and Macziol avenged its UFL Cup defeat to powerhouse Global, 2-1, while Nomads Auction Manila prevailed over Pasargad, 3-2, in a battle of newly promoted teams to the first division of the United Football League Sunday.
Barotac Nuevo-born striker Relan Bretana booted in both goals as the Armymen stamped their class against the team that eliminated them in the UFL Cup in the last two seasons.
Fil-Iranian striker Misagh Bahadoran ended his long scoring drought with an 88th-minute strike, but it could not prevent Global from falling to its first defeat in league play in two seasons.
“Everyone just stepped up (against Global),” Army skipper Roel Gener said in Filipino. “We really made up for the lapses we committed in the Cup. We’re focused on winning the league.”
Phil Patrick Connoly struck what turned out to be the game-winner three minutes into the second half as Nomads fought back from a goal down to gain three points.
With all the other teams winning by just a single goal, Stallion Giligans holds top spot over opening-weekend winners Loyola, Kaya, Nomads and Army with a better goal difference after a 6-nil thrashing of Navy Red Juice.
Nomads took the lead in the 12th minute through Randy Musters, who curled home a 20-yard free kick, but Pasargad responded with goals by Charlie Sutcliffe and Jay Torees in the 14th and 16th minutes, respectively.
Yves De Luis equalized with a well-struck volley from close range off a corner kick in the 41st minute, before the returning Darren Hartmann, on loan from Loyola Meralco, issued the pass that set up Connoly’s goal.
Fil-Spanish standout Angel Guirado made his first start for Global, but his night ended in despair as he was sent off in the 77th minute for a clumsy challenge on Lawrence Bedua.
Guirado was a marked man all game long and Army stopped the Fil-Spanish from imposing his creative influence on the match.