Dynamic Herb Cebu rolled to a 6-0 victory over Mendiola FC 1991 while Stallion Laguna and One Taguig downed separate opponents to kick off the opening weekend of the Philippines Football League (PFL) at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Japanese winger Rintaro Hama and Senegalese striker Abou Sy scored two goals apiece to highlight a masterful result that put in motion the Cebu side’s bid to finally win the league crown after two unsuccessful tries.
Ryoo Togashi and Guytho Mijland also found the mark for the Gentle Giants, who were a week removed from a brutal loss to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in their AFC Champions League Two opener on the same ground.
Stallion, which placed third the previous PFL campaign to miss out on a Champions League Two berth, began the new campaign with a 4-1 defeat of Maharlika Taguig in the lone match held on Saturday.
Finn McDaniel, Kenshiro Daniels and Cameroonian Kevin Ebene Moukouta scored to give the Horsemen the full three points.
Shimomura brace
Tsukasa Shimomura produced a brace to give One Taguig the 3-1 triumph over Manila Digger in Sunday’s other match.
One Taguig is aiming to improve on its fifth-place finish last season and gain a top four spot to make the Final Series, where spots in the Champions League Two and Asean Club Championship are at stake apart from the league title.
Meanwhile, the supposed first match of the league last Saturday between Davao Aguilas-University of Makati and Loyola FC was canceled. PFL officials did not disclose any details, but said that “the status of the match shall be deliberated by the tournament committee.”
The set of matches for the following weekend pit Loyola against Maharlika at 4 p.m. followed by Digger and Mendiola at 7 p.m.
Cebu hosts the Philippine youth team on Sunday at its home pitch in Talisay City while Stallion and One Taguig meet at Rizal Memorial.
Sunday’s final match has Kaya-Iloilo meeting Davao to start its quest for a third consecutive PFL title. INQ