JP Voltes Football Club defeated Laos Football Club, 4-0, in Saturday’s (July 16, 2016) 1:45PM kickoff at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. It was the Voltes’ eighth win in the 2016 United Football League season, and they end the first round in provisional 3rd place with 25 points. In contrast, Laos are stuck at 9th place with 6 points.
Takashi Odawara (39′ & 46′), Alen Angeles (44′), and Takumi Uesato (63′) scored the goals for Voltes in what ended up as a routine victory at Laos’ expense. Voltes proved too much for Laos as the game went on and, if some results go their way, they are capable of winning the UFL title.
This will be the last match for both teams in this round, as the UFL enters a mid-season break.
Voltes started the game full of confidence, as they could have had a goal almost as soon as the game started. Player-Coach Yu Hoshide found himself through on goal, only for his resulting attempt to be cleared off the line by the Laos defense. Voltes, though, also had to watch out, as Laos’ Patrick Franksson had a few sniffs at goal.
It was then an even ballgame as both teams very much cancelled each other out. However, goals change games, and they finally poured for Voltes. The Laos floodgates finally opened in the 39th minute when Odawara turned in a Hoshide corner kick. Things then turned worse moments later in the 44th minute, when Angeles made full use of a John Celiz pass to double Voltes’ lead.
Voltes enjoyed a two-goal advantage at half-time, with Laos left to lament the fact that their resilience had only lasted so long.
Unfortunately for Laos, things went bad to worse once play resumed. Odawara scored his second goal of the game to triple Voltes’ lead in the 46th minute, dribbling past Laos goalie Felipe Tripulca Jr. and calmly slotting the ball home.
At this point in the game, ball possession was primarily Voltes’. Odawara had multiple chances to make a hat-trick, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Voltes ran out as 4-0 winners over Laos, but perhaps they should have added to their tally.
For Voltes team manager Kyo Nagami, disappointment was the theme of his comments.
“I expected much more. It’s not very good but it’s a very hot day. 4-0 is not very bad but not satisfied of course.”
In the 7:30AM kickoff, Forza Alabang FC defeated Agila MSA 4-1. Hayato Aoki (33′ & 84′) scored a brace, while Fready Lobe Mbiang (73′) and Mervin Evangelista (85′) notched a goal each. On the other hand, Jarvee Gayoso (69′) clinched a consolation goal for Agila MSA.
