United City FC marked its return on the domestic front with a 4-0 victory over Maharlika-Manila on Thursday, March 24 in the Copa Paulino Alcantara at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
Alan Robertson, Ricky Sendra, and Ivan Ouano all scored in their maiden appearances for the club while Hikaru Minegishi also found the back of the net as United City won to begin its campaign in the cup competition.
It was United City’s first match on the local scene since capturing the title of the Philippines Football League in November 2020.
UCFC also started life without several key players from its 2020 PFL title run and 2021 AFC Champions League campaign, primarily naturalized striker Bienvenido Maranon and team captain Stephan Schrock.
The result came four days before United City squares off with defending champion Kaya-Iloilo in a potential preview of the final.
It was the second loss in three matches for Maharlika, which three days earlier came to post a 2-1 win over Mendiola FC 1991.
Maharlika will take a month-long break before resuming its Copa stint on April 25 against the Azkals Development Team.
Robertson delivered the opening goal in the 23rd minute with a header that came after a long cross courtesy of Curt Dizon from the right followed by Sendra’s header that sailed towards the South African defender.
Sendra, who played in last year’s Copa for Dynamic Herb Cebu, eventually got his name listed among the goal scorers by sliding the ball past the goal after a low cross from Simen Lyngbo.
Ouano added a third goal for United City before halftime after getting enough space following a through ball by Dizon.
Minegishi settled the final tally in the 73rd with an attempt that hit the roof of the net from a tight-angled position.