Gen Trias plays Global FC to a draw

MANILA, Philippines - General Trias fought reigning League champion Global to a scoreless draw to stay on top of Group A even as Army brought down Stallion, 2-0, to seize the early Group D lead in the United Football League Cup at The Fields in Nuvali.

Both General Trias, which blanked Navy, 5-0, Thursday, and Global, which downed Pasargad, 3-1, in Tuesday’s Cup opener, ended up tied on top of Group A on four points apiece but the former has a better goal differential (5-2).

A victory is equivalent to three points, a draw one point and a loss zero.

Midfielder Ricardo Besite and forward Luisito Brillantes came through with a couple of goals in a seven-minute stretch starting from the 37th minute to go into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

The Armymen held the Stallion booters, who came into the league as the best seeded team in Group D following a fourth place finish in the League, scoreless from there to complete the victory.

Army, which finished in the middle of the pack in the League’s First Division, thus took the early lead in their bracket that included reigning Cup titlist Air Force Phoenix, Sta. Lucia and Agila FC.

In Group C action, Pachanga routed Mendiola FC, 3-0, to seize the early lead in the division that also includes Loyola Meralco Sparks, Nomads Auction Manila and Laos FC.

Ariel Zerudo Jr. opened up scoring for Pachanga, which recently gained promotion from the second to the first division following a solid showing in the League, with a 37th minute rocket.

Jason Cunliffe then scored a goal of his own on a penalty kick on the 71st minute before Zerudo made it a brace with a goal late in regulation to complete the shutout win.