United City FC suffers third-straight loss in 2022 AFCCL tournament

A BG Pathum United scorer sets up a pass to his teammate (AFC Champions League photo)

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Philippine representatives United City FC absorbed their third-straight loss in the 2022 AFC Champions League group stage and is still winless in the prestigious tournament.

The former Ceres-Negros FC team lost at the hands of Thai professional football club BG Pathum United FC, 5-0, held at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Bangkok.

It was all BG Pathum from the get-go as the Thai football club overwhelmed the Philippine defense with their on-point passing which led to two quick attempts within the first 15 minutes of the game.

United City held their backline defense for 42 minutes more but a surging Kanokpon Puspakom of BG Pathum drew first blood and found the back of the net for the first goal of the match.

The second half was a worse defensive outing for the Filipinos as the Thais converted three more goals to seal the deal in a convincing fashion.

Worachit Kanitsribumphen, Diogo Luis Santo, and Pathomphon Charoenrattanaphirom delivered the second-half goals for BG Pathum and easily cruised past the United City defense during their conversions.

Meanwhile, BG Pathum’s one credited goal came at the expense of United City defender Alan Robertson’s own goal with only eight minutes left in the match.

United City is yet to register a single point tally in the 2022 AFCCL group stage and will have the chance to enter the scoring column as they face BG Pathum again on Sunday, 10:00 PM.

After their match against BG Pathum, United City will still have two remaining matches against the Jeonnam Dragons and the Melbourne City FC.