Can FC Meralco Manila sustain its hot start in the Philippines Football League?

Early league leaders FC Meralco Manila sustained their impressive start to the young Philippines Football League campaign with a come from behind 2-1 victory over newcomers Ilocos United in Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

Meralco Manila, after years of underachievement and frustration, look to put their past disappointments behind them with a mix of youth and experience under new coach Aris Caslib.

Also a former Azkals head coach, Caslib mentioned before the game that Meralco has “put emphasis on the defending organization in the last two weeks.”

That defensive organization would immediately come into question as it would be the visiting Ilocos team who would take a shock lead early on.

Ilocos United signed a whole host of former Meralco players in their roster in the offseason, with Anton del Rosario, Baba Sampana and John Kanayama all making their way up north.

But it would be former Meralco striker Graham Caygill who would torment his former side first.

More confident on the ball and more assured in possession, Ilocos showed no sign of nerves that marred their home draw last week, and they started the game strong, capped off by former Sparks Graham Caygill opening the scoring from close range.

The goal celebrations that followed sparked Meralco to life and Ilocos would see their lead disappear after just five minutes, as good work from Tahj Minniecon would find an onrushing Tyler Matas who would equalize for the Sparks.

The scores would remain tied at the half, but a strong start to the second 45 minutes from the home team saw an in-form Tahj Minniecon come up with yet another assist from the left, feeding an incoming Jake Morallo for Meralco’s second goal of the game.

From then, a pragmatic Meralco approach saw the hosts unwilling to commit men forward as they held on for the victory and the full three points.

For Meralco, six points from a possible six is a good start to this long season and Coach Aris will take great heart in the fact that seven different players were responsible for the seven goals scored so far by the team.

In previous seasons, they were reliant on Phil Younghusband to carry the scoring responsibilities. This season, there seems to be a conscious effort to spread the load.

“We just developed our choices and motivate other players of the team to be involved in the scoring,” Coach Aris Caslib tells GMA News Online.

With the presence on the team of the likes of Ashley Flores, Daniel Gadia, and Matas, there is an emphasis on youth as well in Meralco.

“We strengthen the team (now) but with an eye for the future. We want to be competitive not just in the next two years, also in the next six years”.

Ilocos United may come away empty-handed, but will most definitely take this strong performance to heart.

After the 5-1 shellacking of Stallion in Binan last week, most neutrals would expect Meralco to run roughshod over their less illustrious opponents from Vigan.

Ilocos, with their veteran players, were a different proposition altogether and proved to be a tough nut to crack.

All that remain is that bit of quality - that bit of cutting edge - in the attacking end, where they were at times run roughshod by opponents.

In a game with little margins for error, a lapse in defensive concentration cost them dear.

For Ilocos United, a 1-2 defeat away from home against a more established team is a more than respectable result. Still, points matter in this business, and Ilocos would have to start finding these points soon.

It certainly doesn’t get any easier, with hot title favorites Ceres Negros visiting Vigan next week.

As for Meralco, some issues will no doubt be discussed despite the victory. With the number of long shots they took, and the players they pushed forward looking for a rebound, Ilocos United sensed a weakness in Meralco’s goalkeeping position.

Ace Villanueva more than rose to the challenge, but he needs to put in a more commanding performance between the posts.

Fullbacks and new Meralco boys Tyler Matas and Alvin Sarmiento were more than a handful going forward, and they must stay defensively aware against stronger teams. May Meralco have scored seven goals so far, but have been unable to keep clean sheets in both their games.

New boys Ilocos United would be more than happy with a top four finish, but expectations are a slightly a bit different over at the Meralco camp.

It is extremely early days, but two wins out of two with seven goals scored have Meralco topping the table thus far. They hope it is where they will be after the league ends. —JST, GMA News