OFFENSE prevailed over defense this time as Ceres-La Salle tripped Kaya FC, 2-1, to emerge as the only unbeaten club in the United Football League at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
The reigning Division 2 champions leaned on an early attack as Kaya conceded goals for the first time on the way to absorbing a first defeat in five matches.
Patrick Reichelt registered a goal and an assist to Adrian Gallardo for Ceres, which stretched its winning streak to four matches to jump to second spot with 12 points, just one behind Global FC with still two games on hand.
In a battle between the league’s top offensive and defensive squads, it was Ceres, coming in averaging four goals per game, that lived up to its billing as the newly promoted side finally unlocked the Kaya defense courtesy of Reichelt.
The Azkals striker scored off the rebound just 14 minutes into the encounter, before supplying the cross that Gallardo headed home seven minutes later to double the lead.
After OJ Porteria trimmed the deficit for Kaya with his strike in the 26th minute, both teams tightened defensively until Joven Bedic conjured a close-range chance that could’ve knotted the count, but missed nine minutes before second-half stoppage time.