JP Voltes and UFL Cup champion Global posted lopsided victories ahead of their battle this week to gain the share of the early lead in the United Football League last Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Takumi Uesato and substitute Alen Angeles scored two goals each as JP Voltes crushed Nomads, 5-0, while Global showed no mercy on sister team Laos and cruised to an 8-0 triumph.
Both clubs are level on points with six apiece but JP Voltes, a team composed mostly of Japanese players, holds the top spot on goal difference.
“We scored five goals but we still missed a lot of chances,” said JP Voltes skipper Yu Hoshide.
The two sides meet on Thursday night to dispute the solo lead in the 12-team, double-round league season.
“It’s difficult for us since we are still growing as a team, but we want to challenge the bigger clubs in this league,” said Yoshide, who played several years for Global before transferring to JP Voltes.
Global got another brace from star striker Misagh Bahadoran in dismantling Laos. OJ Clarino, Hikaru Minegishi, Mark Winhoffer, Omid Nazari and Paolo Bugas also found the back of the net for the double-seeking side.
Laos defender Michael Atienza gave Global an early gift when he scored an own goal five minutes after the opening whistle.
“We were quite disjointed in the first half,” Manson said. (Jonas Terrado)