MANILA---National team standouts Ian Araneta, Yanti Barsales and Chieffy Caligdong were on target as Air Force Rider drubbed Green Archers Orient Freight, 5-1, yesterday to grab top spot at the start of second-round play in the United Football League at the University of Makati pitch.

Araneta, who scored for the Azkals in the 3-0 rout of Bangladesh in the AFC Challenge Cup in Myanmar last month, struck twice in a two-minute span in the first half after Caligdong opened the scoring for Air Force, which notched its fifth victory to jack up its record to 17 points.

Loyola Meralco earlier held erstwhile leader Global Smartmatic to a 1-1 stalemate, opening the door for Air Force to take the lead for the first time.

It was Global’s third straight draw, dropping last year’s second division champ to second with 15 points after opening with four straight victories.

Loyola moved up to fifth with six points in the league backed by LBC.

Hoping to make a late push for the title, Loyola acquired brothers Mark and Darren Hartmann, as well as Japanese midfielder Tako Yashioka during the transfer window.

And the change immediately paid off as Yoshioka struck the opening goal off a free kick from the right three minutes into the match.

Global equalized two minutes into the second half. Misagh Bahadoran looked to have handled the ball, but no call was made and the Fil-Iranian striker rifled home a shot from outside the box.

Caligdong broke the ice in the 16th minute, getting in behind the Archers’ defense before beating keeper Martin Villaflor. But Green Archers equalized five minutes later through Enrique Romero-Salas.

Araneta’s two quick goals—the first created by Caligdong from the left and the other a follow up on his saved effort—settled the outcome.

Barsales and Aubrey Amatolo completed the rout with a goal each in the second half.

Cedelf Tupas, Inquirer.net