Ceres faces Global in PFF-Smart q’finals

By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
“Negros team is still among the country’s best.”
This is how Ceres FC head coach Freddie “Nene” Lazarito described his team after beating defending UFL Cup champion Stallion Giligan FC, 1-nil, last Sunday in the PFF Smart Club Championship Round of 16 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
“Our victory has proved one thing – that Negros Occidental-based football team remains as one of the country’s best squads,” Lazarito said.
Bankrolled by brothers Ricky and Leo Rey Yanson, the Ceres FC management and coaching staff was able to establish a competitive line-up to meet the requirements of this high-level competition.
Boosted by the combined homegrown talents with the reinforcement of Korean and English booters, and anchored by veteran mentor Lazarito and assistant coaches Ramon Janeo and Ali Go, the Ceres FC is no longer an underdog.
Notwithstanding the fact the Stallions held a 70-30 percent advantage on offense of the entire match, and the presence of its deadly Spanish striker Rufino Sanchez on top of the Stallion’s offense, unfazed the Ceres defenders.
Instead, the loaned booter from the Spanish third division side CF Internacional de Madrid has ended the match disappointed for not converting a single goal after the paired central defense of English Danny Claxton and Korean Yoon Byeong Jun made it difficult for the Spaniard to create clear targets on goal.
But truly, Sanchez is a lethal treat. Many times that he led the Stallions’ run and almost made a number of good shots, including a header in the 30th minute only he was called for an offside.
And in many occasions, the Stallions had dominated the ball possession particularly from the left flank with Korean wingman Lee Joo Young, who created a number of plays for Sanchez and skipper Ruben Doctora.
Yet the Stallions’ efforts did not pay off against the established Ceres defense.
It was only in the 46th minute of added time that Ceres FC got its break on transition English striker Peter Long winning a header against Stallion defender Joaquin Garcia, that gave striker Yoon Byeong Jun a chance on a cross to midfielder Kim Jung Mook for the goal.
In the second half, Azkals Fil-Danish midfielder Jason de Jong further strengthened the Stallions’ formidable attack – challenging the Ceres FC back four of skipper Jason Cordova, Claxton and Koreans Yoon Byeong and Sim Hyung Min.
De Jong made his presence felt in the 54th minute as he struck from just inside the penalty box but went directly to Ceres keeper Hyoun Jae Jun.
But the best of Hyoun’s saves came in the 74th minute when he tapped away Sanchez’s close-range strike.
“Admittedly, they are a stronger team than us. We have just prepared well against their attacks,” said Ceres FC head coach Lazarito. “We have studied a number of video tapes of their games. So we knew how to stop them.”
“We have proved that we are among the country’s best,” the veteran mentor added.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Go explained why their team was on the disadvantaged position during the first half. “We try as much as possible delay the entry of our striker (Peter) Long because he just arrived from England and we know his condition is yet fit for immediate fielding.
Moreover, we also wanted to lower down Stallions’ pacing before we send in Long,” the former national team striker Go added.
With the Ceres victory, the Negros-based squad advanced to the quarterfinals and faces powerhouse Global FC on Saturday, January 19 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
National team members Carli de Murga and Patrick Reichelt both scored in the second half to lift Global to a 2-1 triumph over Nomads FC, 2-1 also last Sunday at RMFS.
Against Global FC, Lazarito stressed that the Ceres FC coaching staff still have to talk about their game plan. “We are going to face a star-studded club composed of the national team players. Again, we will always be ready for it,” he added./

WDJ