Juniors are back

Geo Castañeda (red) Arsenio Moreno (white)

After a challenging run of three consecutive losses, AC Juniors have roared back into form with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Vino Tinto. This crucial win puts them right back in the title race as they aim to secure a strong position for the playoffs.

The match started with an early goal by Matthew Phan in the 10th minute, giving AC Juniors the lead. Vino Tinto responded quickly, equalizing at the 17th minute with a goal from Vargas. However, AC Juniors quickly regained the lead, thanks to a well-coordinated play between Castañeda and Danny Castro, finished by Tony Castro in the 20th minute.

The second half saw AC Juniors dominate, with Tony Castro scoring again in the 51st minute. Gio Castañeda, their standout player of the season, added another goal, marking his 26th of the season and keeping him in the race for the top scorer title. Finally, Erwin Regules sealed the win in stoppage time, bringing the score to 5-1.

Currently, we're in matchday 17 of the Volt League season, which features 22 regular season games. AC Juniors have completed 16 games, leaving them with six more to play. They need to win most of these remaining matches and hope that Ghost Town Saints FC and Dynasty drop points to secure a better spot in the standings. With 12 teams in the league, the top two seeds qualify directly to the semifinals, while teams placed 3rd to 6th compete in playoff games to decide which two advance to the semifinals.

This victory propels AC Juniors to fourth place with 33 points, just behind Dynasty, who have 35 points but one more game played. With their full squad back in action, including key players like Castañeda, Tony Castro, Danny Castro, Hilario Torres in defense, and Erwin Regules in midfield, AC Juniors look poised to make a strong push for the semifinals.

With a roster as talented and cohesive as theirs, AC Juniors are definitely a team to watch as the season progresses. Their return to form couldn't have come at a better time, and fans can look forward to more thrilling performances as they chase the title.