United City FC asserted its dominance early to fashion a 1-0 decision over the Azkals Development Team on a rainy Wednesday at the start of the Philippines Football League at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
Midfielder Mike Ott took a pass from elder sibling Manny Ott to volley in the opening goal in the 25th minute from the top of penalty spot on the way to the team’s initial win in the six-team competition brought to you by Qatar Airways.
The pre-tournament favorite, however, will miss Manny Ott in the team’s next match after he was sent off for a challenge on Simen Lyngbo in the 81st minute.
The ADT couldn’t find an equalizer late on as United City goalkeeper Anthony Pinthus palmed away Carlo Dorin’s deflected effort.
.“We’re really not happy over the officiating of the game,” was the opening remark of UCFC assistant coach Francis Muescan. “There should at least one or two calls that could have gone our way for penalties.”
But Muescan also praised the strong stand of the ADT squad, especially in the second half, because “they showed resilience and gave it their all until the end.”
He shrugged off the loss of Manny Ott, saying “we still have Arnie Pasinabo and Jorrel Aristorenas” who could fill in the void left by the midfielder.
“After more than seven months without competition, we just need to get our rhythm back and create more scoring chances,” Muescan said.
ADT coach Scott Cooper admitted his side gave United too much respect.
“We gave United a little bit space and too much respect in the first half,” said Cooper. “But we put a little bit more pressure in the second half and the score could have been easily 1-1.”
He noted that his wards refused to be bullied by their crack rivals “and in the end we pushed them back and chased in the last 30 minutes of the match.
“I’m proud of this result,” said Cooper. “For me, it was a really good performance.”
“Manu (Ott) gave me a good pass and I knew that when I shot the ball that it had a good chance of going in so I am very happy,” said Mike Ott, who was named the Man-of-the-Match. “Now we just play well and look forward for the next game.”
Like Muescan, the younger Ott said he was not worried about the loss of his older sibling “because we will be prepared for whatever happens next.”