UV BOUNCES BACK, TAKES TOP SPOT
After an unexpected loss last week, the University of the Visayas got back in style, beating the University of San Carlos, 1-0, to take the lead in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. at the Cebu City Sports Center.
UV and USC, the three-time defending champion, both have 10 points on three wins and a draw, but the Green Booters have a better goal difference at seven thanks to a couple of 3-1 victories over the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R). The Kicking Jaguars are at third place at seven points, while the University of Cebu (UC) is at fourth place at five points. The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), the runner-up the last three seasons, is last at three points. Both UC and USPF were playing at press time yesterday.
Though the scoreline showed otherwise, the USC Warriors dominated the game but poor finishing and some unlucky breaks handed the game to the Green Booters. After coming close a couple of times in the first half, the Warriors found themselves trailing after Kenneth Vargas’ free kick hit the bar and redirected to the goal 40 minutes into the first half.
In the second half, USC tried to push for an equalizer and dominated possession, getting into the UV box almost at will thanks to crisp passes and some errant clearances from the UV defense. The Warriors got another break in the 55th after referee Luis Arriesgado booked Vince Duazo for a second yellow card, reducing UV to 10 men.
Minutes later, USC got the first of their numerous goal-mouth chances as Aldrich Pelenio’s header hit the top bar. Andrew Pelicano also got a free header off Jose Alicaya’s lovely free kick but he went wide, while Pelenio managed to fire a shot inside the box from a half-chance but also missed.
Christian Agot intercepted another bad clearance from the defense but couldn’t make much of it and in the next play, UV got a lucky bounce off a goal kick, leading to a shot by Ronmark Mansueto but he also missed.
Then in the dying minutes, things got testy. A sneaky elbow by Alicaya sent Chrisphil Caballero down in the sideline. USC had possession and was about to attack the UV side when Arriesgado stopped the play, earning the ire of the USC Warriors who were pissed at the delaying tactics.
Fortunately, after some heated exchanges, cooler heads manage to diffuse the tension.
On Sunday, USC will gun for that all-important win against USJ-R, while UV will face USP-F. With only three points separating the top four teams, the race for the two finals spot is expected to get tighter. /