FC Meralco Manila secured some much-needed breathing room atop the Philippines Football League with a narrow 2-1 victory over Global Cebu FC this past Sunday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Daniel Gadia scored the game-winner for the Sparks four minutes from time, as the substitute scored his first goal of the season. Replacing recent acquisition Franco de la Torre in midfield, he eased in his shot past the line, then celebrated afterwards, netting a yellow card in the process.'
Tahj Minniecon opened scoring for FC Meralco Manila in the 32nd minute, receiving a pass from Jim Ashley Flores and then producing a clinical finish against Patrick Deyto. Global Cebu would equalized just minutes before the halftime whistle, scoring through a magnificent volley from Hikaru Minegeshi.
Global had a chance to secure an equalizer in injury time, but Ace Villanueva deflected Rufo Sanchez's shot over the bar.
Head coach Aris Caslib praised the UP alum after the match, "All week, we had been reminding Gadia to just the place the ball on his finishing. In the last fifteen minutes of the game he did his job well."
His counterpart, Akbar Nawas, could only bemoan his squad's missed scoring opportunities, saying "We were unlucky with our chances in goal, so many from so near."
Lee Jeong Min humbly deflected the praise that had been bestown his way, noting that "Everyone worked hard," and adding, "I don't want to be a star. I just want to help my teammates. It's my job." He felt that Gadia should have been the one addressing the media post-match after his heroics.
The win allows FC Meralco Manila to extend its reign atop the PFL table a little bit longer, owning a four-point gap against Ceres-Negros FC, with the latter having two games in hand. The two teams are set to face off later this week.
As for Global, they are all but locked in as the fourth seed heading into the Finals Series, which will commence starting December 2. They close out the eliminations next week against Ceres-Negros.
Notes:
Flores and de la Torre were given spot starts for this matchup by Caslib... Tyler Matas finally gets a break from football action, as he will be suspended for the upcoming Ceres match due to card accumulation... Global Cebu is the home side for this matchup, even though the game is at the Sparks' home ground, as the CCSC is being used as the venue for the Visayan leg of the Batang Pinoy competition. The Sparks' win over Global ensures that they have a win against all the other PFL teams.
Daniel Gadia scored the game-winner for the Sparks four minutes from time, as the substitute scored his first goal of the season. Replacing recent acquisition Franco de la Torre in midfield, he eased in his shot past the line, then celebrated afterwards, netting a yellow card in the process.'
Tahj Minniecon opened scoring for FC Meralco Manila in the 32nd minute, receiving a pass from Jim Ashley Flores and then producing a clinical finish against Patrick Deyto. Global Cebu would equalized just minutes before the halftime whistle, scoring through a magnificent volley from Hikaru Minegeshi.
Global had a chance to secure an equalizer in injury time, but Ace Villanueva deflected Rufo Sanchez's shot over the bar.
Head coach Aris Caslib praised the UP alum after the match, "All week, we had been reminding Gadia to just the place the ball on his finishing. In the last fifteen minutes of the game he did his job well."
His counterpart, Akbar Nawas, could only bemoan his squad's missed scoring opportunities, saying "We were unlucky with our chances in goal, so many from so near."
Lee Jeong Min humbly deflected the praise that had been bestown his way, noting that "Everyone worked hard," and adding, "I don't want to be a star. I just want to help my teammates. It's my job." He felt that Gadia should have been the one addressing the media post-match after his heroics.
The win allows FC Meralco Manila to extend its reign atop the PFL table a little bit longer, owning a four-point gap against Ceres-Negros FC, with the latter having two games in hand. The two teams are set to face off later this week.
As for Global, they are all but locked in as the fourth seed heading into the Finals Series, which will commence starting December 2. They close out the eliminations next week against Ceres-Negros.
Notes:
Flores and de la Torre were given spot starts for this matchup by Caslib... Tyler Matas finally gets a break from football action, as he will be suspended for the upcoming Ceres match due to card accumulation... Global Cebu is the home side for this matchup, even though the game is at the Sparks' home ground, as the CCSC is being used as the venue for the Visayan leg of the Batang Pinoy competition. The Sparks' win over Global ensures that they have a win against all the other PFL teams.
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