Meralco, Global collide in key weekend match
PHILIPPINES Football League (PFL)-leading FC Meralco Manila battles Global Cebu FC in a key game on Sunday which many see as a possible playoff prequel.
Both already through to the finals series phase of the country’s national football league, Meralco and Global look to fortify their spots heading into the next round of the tournament in their 7 p.m. encounter at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
The game is Meralco’s penultimate regular season match and it is bent on using it to finish strong in the first season of the PFL.
The Sparks though are expecting not to have it easy against Global, a team they have yet to beat in three games so far this season, having drawn twice and lost once in earlier matches.
Meralco will count on its Philippine Azkal, Curt Dizon, for fi repower. Mr. Dizon nearly struck for the Philippines last Tuesday against Nepal in their AFC Asian Cup qualifier game, which ended in a goalless draw, but his first- half attempt was saved by the Nepalese keeper.
On the part of Global, it is expected to miss the services of national team players Dennis Villanueva and Paolo Salenga, who were given yellow cards in their game against Stallion Laguna FC and who were meant to serve those bans in a match against Ilocos United FC on Nov. 5, which was rescheduled.
As things stand in the pecking order in the homestretch of the PFL regular season, Meralco is still on top of the standings on 54 points from 26 matches while Global is in fourth with 43 points after 25 games.
Running second is CeresNegros FC on 52 points from 24 matches followed by Kaya FCMakati on 47 from 27 matches.
As per tournament schedule, the two- legged semifinals will be held on Dec. 2, 3, 9, and 10 with the one-match final set for Dec. 16. —