By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Having to essentially play back-to-back road games because of the unavailability of the Cebu City Sports Complex for the first leg, fourth-seeded Global Cebu had its back against the wall versus top-seeded Meralco Manila.
A late goal in the second leg got the Visayan side out of the woods.
Rufo Sanchez silenced the Rizal Memorial Stadium as his late goal forced a 1-1 draw in the second game of their PFL semifinal series on Saturday night.
The draw, however, means Cebu's 2-1 first leg win in its credited home game was the difference of the two-legged affair as the club clinched one of the two spots in the championship game next Saturday via a 3-2 aggregate win.
Manila was actually just nine minutes away from preserving its top seed as the club pressed Cebu defensively right after Curt Dizon put the designated host club, which had the away goal advantage, ahead in the third minute of play.
But Sanchez's 85th minute goal off a miscue from Tyler Matas forced the 1-1 deadlock.
Manila still had one final crack to force extra time, but Simon Greatwich dished out a bad pass with just seconds left in the four-minute second half stoppage time, passing the ball to nobody as he thought a teammate will try to go through the left side of the goal.
Cebu will take on Negros, which took a 2-1 win in its own semis Game 2 against Makati to seal the series win, in the final.
Iain Ramsay's second half goal kept Negros afloat after Woody Ugarte's late first half goal provided some scare as the club won, 3-1, on aggregate.
Bienve Marañon struck first for Negros as he headed in a 30th minute goal.
Ugarte, however, tied the match--and in the process giving Makati a crucial away goal--as he scored a 43rd minute putback after Miguel Tanton's free kick was saved by Roland Muller only to end up at the feet of Ugarte.
Ramsay sealed the win with a 73rd minute attack from way out.
What a joke! Manila gets misses out on continental competition yet but this time it's because of the idiotic format!
ReplyDeleteThey already won the league after a quadruple, yes QUADRUPLE round robin, but still miss out on the AFC Cup because there was still playoffs! Pathetic from the PFF!!
You'd also have to say that this retarded format played a role in the mess regarding the national team's participation in the CTFA tournament.
You mad bro?
DeleteThis format has been decided at the start of the season and I don't remember anyone raising hell over it. The quadruple rr/finals format was used to satisfy the thirst for games of both players and fans. With only a handful of teams this inaugural season it would have been pathetic and anticlimactic if we used the regular format. Plus if we want more fans to follow football, the finals would be akin to what we are used to in basketball.
If the PFF is pathetic, then you can also blame the teans for agreeing to this setup. Hahay, talaga naman. Pag may natatalo andami reklamo. Ewan ko lang if Meralco won if you'd still be this frustrated. Patas naman ang laban ah, both Global and Meralco came into the game w same rules, same conditions, naka 2 home games pa nga Sparks.
Basta, for me, fitting lang na Visayas Clasico ang Finals. Consistent na mas marami nanonood dun sa Panaad at CCSC.
#bisayapud
#visayasclasicoisreal
#AFCfootballisreal
The format was suppose to be DOUBLE round robin not QUADRUPLE round robin you moron!!!
DeleteThe PFF was also suppose to create a new cup competition ala FA Cup to create more games! Yet they never did. No pro league in the world has a fuckin quadruple round robin format and then still has playoffs. #onlyinthephilippines
They were also suppose to create a new youth competition but yet again they didn't!! The PFF is pathetic!! And quite frankly, you're pathetic yourself for supporting the PFF's pathetic ways!
Triggered much?
DeleteBat ngayon lang nagrereklamo? Kung nanalo Meralco okay lang ang format for you?
You heard wrong, format was double round robin then playoffs when the number of teams were finalized. Go ahead, ask mo si Belay.
Delete@Anonymous 10 December 2017 at 17:34
DeletePorket ngayon ka lang nakarinig ng reklamo ibig sabihin ngayon land din nagreklamo?!? Tanggengot!!
losers. iyakin. nakakahiya kayo. ang daming problema ng team na tumalo sa inyo. kulang kulang pa sila sa players.
Deletei agree with you. it's not good to be left out after completing the quadruple roundrobin. that's why it was stupid of you to want to be on top. all you needed to do was be No. 4 :) be smarter next time, mate.
DeleteReklamo mo ngayon kasi di naka pasok ang Meralco. Reklamo mo dati kasi pangit ang format. Ewan ko lang kung nagrereklamo ka pa kung panalo kayo. Ang pangit tignan sa totoo lang ginagawa mo. Dinadamay mo pa lahat pff youth league ctfa tourney.. lapitan ka naman sana ng konting hiya.
DeletePero naiintindihan ko kayo, tagal niyo ng inaasam asam AFC. Pero wala eh. Kahit 2 home games na, olats pa rin.
@Anonymous 11 December 2017 at 12:54
DeleteThat's problem with people like you, you like to accept everything as it is and you don't voice your concern or discontent. In other words you love to take everything up the ass with pleasure! Kapag may nag reklamo naman, sasabihin maarte, reklamador at atbp. Very typical local mentality and attitude.
Name calling, insulting, homophobic, coñotic. Hoy, mahiya ka naman! Just because we don't agree with you, you can accuse us of beneath you. The plain and simple reason why you are this hysterical is because your team lost. That's it. Wag kang mamersonal.
Delete"Wag mamersonal"... Not getting personal. Just calling a spade a spade! Deal with it!!
DeleteRelaks lang. May for 3rd pa naman kayo hehehe
Deletego for 3rd losers
DeleteSo sorry to hear meralco who is the TD of PFF for so long got embarrassed by an A licensed coach only. Aria who is a well decorated AFC A licensed, instructor and diplomate.
ReplyDeleteNext season (sana). MVP should put tons of HIS money to HIS football club. Pro lng kasi bball ang inaatupag. Talo pa ni yanson.
ReplyDelete