After back-to-back winless campaigns against Cebu FC and United City FC dampened their underdog run this season, Davao Aguilas UMak FC returned to the winning column, albeit with some difficulty from a young but determined Tuloy FC, after earning a hard-fought 3-1 win despite their captain Daisuke Sato missing from the pitch again.
An early lead for Aguilas from Yusuke Unoki’s opener quickly vanished after the Tuloy kids responded within minutes with a Cyril Saut golazo into the top corner, freezing Davao goalkeeper and standing captain Dini Outtara, and putting the usually impenetrable Davao in an awkward position just 15 minutes into the match.
However, Unoki salvaged the side from the ropes with a counterattack finished by the Japanese winger, who was deployed as a sort of central striker in this game, to regain the lead for Davao in the 25th minute, a lead the Aguilas held until halftime.
Usually lethal from the starting lineup, Davao Aguilas top scorer Ibrahima N’dour was brought on from the bench and provided the fresh legs needed by a frustrated Davao in the second half, putting the cherry on top with an insurance goal in virtually the final kick of the game deep into stoppage time to seal the underwhelming yet vital win.
This return to winning ways kept Davao’s slim hopes for a title shot alive as they sit fourth with 26 points, a 5-point chase from league leaders Kaya FC with three games to go, while the young guns of Tuloy FC suffer their sixth straight defeat but retain 13th place.
Davao Aguilas will aim to spice up the title race as they face midtable Maharlika Taguig FC next Sunday, while the youthful Tuloy FC will strive to return to the winning column against an out-of-form Mendiola FC 1991 on Saturday, both matches taking place at the nation’s footballing cathedral.
Despite the defeat, Tuloy FC, coached by Taketomo Suzuki, can hold their heads high as their teenage squad, captained by 19-year-old Noti Nunez, kept pace and competed gallantly with their kuyas from Davao, providing a legitimate threat and frustrating the much more powerful title contenders at times.
Meanwhile, Davao-born captain Daisuke Sato was again not included in the Davao roster, although he was seen watching his team from the stands, as his absence, alongside the loss of other key players due to injuries, remains a headache for coach Aber John Ruzgal.
The last time Daisuke Sato played for Davao was in the defeat in Cebu two weeks ago, and during that time, rumors circulated about his possible return to Liga 1 in Indonesia. Although these rumors remain unconfirmed, it is yet to be determined if he will return to the pitch to represent his hometown club.
