By Kevin Estrada
MANILA—After giving league leaders Global a huge scare
following their gallant defensive stand, Forza finally won for the first time
this season, subduing flat-footed Laos 3-0 in the first of the Saturday
doubleheader at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Lionel Mekong, Aoki Hayato and Stephen Burda all found the
back of the net for Forza boss Arvin Jay Soliman in a match filled with
unpredictable weather to get their first points since they drew Green Archers
United on Labor Day, as they also snapped their six-match losing streak also
today.
The win also leapfrogged them to 9th in the table
and overtake idle Agila on goal difference as they are both tied at four points
apiece.
“Masaya na ako dahil nakuha na naming kung ano ang dapat na
result, but we still have to work hard to meet our target, which is mapasama
kami sa top 8,” the former Benilde booter quoted after the match.
With the setback, Laos were now dragged near the bottom of
the pile at 11th as they lost back-to-back matches after taking
their first win over still-winless Pasargad.
The tall Cameroonian forward came back from a long injury
layoff to score the first two minutes after the hour mark, as he breaks away on
a counter and chipped the ball past Laos netminder Felipe Tripulca.
Unpredictability played a huge mark in the match, as the hot
and humid nature in the first half was suddenly turned to wet and wild at the
restart as referee Linjun Talaver even temporarily called a halt to the
proceedings in the 58th minute due to light thunderstorms.
Hayato then settled matters with a beautifully placed header
of Yoshiharu Koizumi’s cross in the 84th minute and the former Navy
standout put the finishing touches with a thunderous free kick four minutes
later.
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