United City FC made their return to the Philippines Football League with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of rivals and defending league champions Kaya FC-Iloilo in Sunday's opening match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Meetings between United City and Kaya were often billed as the clash between two of the Philippines' finest football teams, but following United City's withdrawal from the Philippines Football League in February 2023 due to severe financial issues, the rivalry has been put on ice.
Left unopposed, Kaya swept both the 2023 Philippines Football League and the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara titles in United City's absence.
But following the introduction of former Persijap Jepara president Esti Puji Lestari into the club's hierarchy, United City saw themselves undergo a resurgence as they returned to the Philippines Football League for the 2024 season. The former giants were undergoing a massive rebuild from top-to-bottom, drawing in seasoned Filipino players in Curt Dizon and Mark Hartmann as well as Philippine Football League veterans Ricardo Sendra, Serge Kaole, and Henri Bandeken. Canadian goalkeeper Matt Silva also made his return to United City, while Indonesia international defender Nurhidayat Haji Haris and former Finnish top-flight stalwart Ariel Ngueukam were also brought in.
Overseeing the new squad was former FLC Thanh Hoa and PSS Sleman head coach Marian Mihail, who brought in former FCSB manager Nicolae Dica and former FC Voluntari gaffer Liviu Ciobotariu as his assistants.
In short, the meeting between United City and Kaya on Sunday was no longer the clash between titans of Filipino football, instead it was a meeting between the nation's best team and a former giant that's still trying to find their feet back.
And sure enough it was Kaya who showed their quality early into the match, as Erik Esso gave the Iloilo-based side a 1-0 lead after four minutes.
The quick goal threw United City's gameplan into the bin and despite their best efforts in holding off the defending champions, Kaya got their second of the match nine minutes before full-time courtesy of Jesus Melliza.
Defeat meant that United City ended the first matchweek of the new Philippines Football League season in 11th place, however Marian's men won't have to wait long to set their record straight as a much more manageable opponent in the form of Philippines Army FC will be their next opponent on April 14th.
