Cebu Football - CAFC's late attack

FORMER RP team stalwart Arnie Pasenabo towed Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC) to a tough 3-2 win over University of San Carlos (USC) in the 10th Interclub Invitational Tournament Men's Open at the USC field yesterday.

CAFC is now safely on top with seven points on two wins and a draw, while USC is stuck at third with three points. Doraemon, which will play last place Count FC today, is second with four points.

The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and FC Inter Cebu share fourth spot with a point.

CAFC dominated the attack at the start but found itself trailing, 1-0, in the 11th after Philip Kenei was brought down in the box and Kyle Soriano converted the penalty.

Rommel Cuizon got the first real chance for CAFC but his lob past an approaching Paolo Pascual was too high.

In the 37th, Cuizon was brought down in the box and Pasenabo calmly hit the lower left corner for the equalizer.

In the second half, Julius Acre had two chances inside the box but both his shots were deflected. Another 35-yard effort from the midfielder went straight to Pascual.

USC got ahead in the 58th with an excellent goal from Bernard Rotich just outside the box. Rotich pivoted left then hit the crossbar from 21 yards with his left foot.

Jo Sacil, who came in as a substitute, almost got the equalizer with his first touch of the game but Pascual managed to fend off his shot.

Gift

With only just seven minutes left, CAFC got a gift after Cuizon was again brought down. This time, Pasenabo hit the bottom right for the equalizer.

The goal buoyed CAFC and dampened USC. And Pasenabo took advantage.

Two minutes from time, Pasenabo's quickness got him past the defense and he found an open Cuizon, who just tapped in to an empty net for the winning goal.

USC will next face USJ-R at 3:30 p.m. today, while CAFC faces FC Inter Cebu tomorrow.

In the morning games, John Nieves scored six times to tow Abellana National School-Pomeroy, 11-1, over Danao FC, while Don Bosco College beat Blessed John XXIII Seminary, 2-0.

Sacred Heart School-Jesuits also took advantage of a miscue by Gilber Tan for a 1-0 win over Springdale.

Sun Star Cebu