MANILA – United City secured the Philippines Football League championship after blasting Stallion Laguna, 7-1, at the PFL National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite on Friday night.
A second-half barrage turned things around for United City as it clinched the title with one match to spare, a showdown with Kaya Iloilo on Monday night.
Mike Ott struck first for the club after Bienve Marañon found him open inside the box in the sixth minute.
Stallion Laguna momentarily made it a match as Ibrahim Ndour became the first player to deny Anthony Pinthus a clean sheet with a 12th-minute equalizer.
Tadashi Odawara gave United City the lead for good as he headed in a Pika Minegishi corner in the 25th minute.
The club's second-half domination began with Ott's second goal in the 52nd minute.
Marañon then went to work scoring-wise with a 58th-minute goal that made it 4-1.
He made it a brace with his 66th-minute goal off another Minegishi feed.
Ott then let OJ Porteria enter the scoring fray with his 71st-minute goal.
Marañon then sealed his hat trick with a 74th-minute goal.
Counting its days as Ceres Negros, United City won its fourth consecutive PFL title.
Meanwhile, with its worst loss in recent memory, Stallion remains stuck in fifth place with only one point, a crucial draw against Kaya Iloilo on Tuesday night, to show. (PNA)
