Cebu Queen City United routs Forza, 8-2, in UFL

Source: Mike T. Limpag | Sun Star Cebu

WITH third place in the division already locked, and playing for pride only, Cebu Queen City United routed Forza, 8-2, to nail its 14th win in the United Football League second division yesterday at the University of Makati Field.

Cebu improved to 14-4-3- for 46 points in its maiden season in the country’s only semi-professional football league.

Pachanga FC is a cinch to clinch the top spot with 58 and two matches to go, while Diliman is second with 53 and Agila FC is fourth with 36 points. Whatever happens in the final matches, the rankings of the top four teams in the division won’t change.

But that would be little comfort to a Cebu Queen City squad that is raring to avenge its loss to Agila FC in the first round when they meet in their final game next week.

“This will be a grudge re-match,” said Cebu Queen City United coach Mario Ceniza, whose squad lost to Agila, 2-1, in its second game of the first round last January.

Last January, just two games into the season, the team had 24 players in its pool and it has been reduced to 19 due to suspensions, injuries and off-field commitments of the players.

But yesterday, that didn’t matter as two minutes in, they got the lead after Rommel Cuizon’s corner got redirected by a Forza defender to their own goal. Ryan Hemida got the second goal before Forza nailed their first but two quick goals by Ariel Cahilig made it 4-1.

Cebu’s prolific striker, Dan Villarico, got his 20th goal for the season for 5-1, while Junard Aguilar marked his return to active duty and made it 6-1 in the first half.

“We were really pushing for Villarico to score more goals so he will get noticed,” said Ceniza.

Villarico ranks second in the division with 20, 12 behind Pachanga’s Freddy Gonzales.

Forza made it 6-2 early in the second half but substitute Rene Menchavez made it 7-2 before Frederick Isic’s powerful throw-in, which was aided by the wind, deflected past the keeper and straight to the net.

Had the keeper not touch the ball, the goal would have been disallowed.