GLOBAL CEBU OVERCOMES MARIKINA
Two quick goals in both halves lift Global Cebu over JPV Marikina, 2-1 Paolo Salenga scores in third minute, Minegishi delivers in 49th Extra: Global played without 4 of its key players, who were hurt or suspended
Global Cebu FC made do with a depleted lineup and managed to remain unbeaten at home with a 2-1 victory over JPV Marikina FC in the Philippines Football League (PFL) last Sunday night at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Missing most of its key players to either injuries and suspensions, Global Cebu FC stepped up its game to walk away with a win against a team that handed them their worst beating in the season.
“I give credit to the players, they fought hard. They came and played and got the result that we wanted,” Global Cebu FC head coach Akbar Nawas said after the match.
Global Cebu FC was without skipper Misagh Bahadoran and Amani Agunaldo, who are both out with injuries. They also missed strikers Rufo Sanchez and Darryl Roberts, who were both serving suspensions from ac- quired yellow cards.
“The thing with us and Global and what we have gone through in the last couple of months, we are short of players and all that. It is amazing that every time the players go out there, they better themselves, they do whatever they can and they pull off this kind of result. Of course, it may not happen all the time but to do it week in and week out. All I can say is that it goes to the players, they are the ones playing on the pitch and not me. Give the credit all to them,” said Nawas.
Paolo Salenga and Paolo Bugas got the start up front, while 18-year-old defender Marco Casambre also filled in the center back role.
Salenga, who was impressive in the RHB Singapore Cup, scored a quick goal in just three minutes of action to the delight of the roaring Cebuano fans.
Hikaru Minegishi, who returned to his usual left wing po- sition after a couple of matches at left back, scored Global Cebu FC’s second goal in the 49th minute with a nifty move to beat goalkeeper Felipe Tripulac inside the box. J Baguioro answered with a goal for JPV Marikina FC three minutes later.
With enough time left for an equalizer, JPV aggressively attacked Global Cebu FC but to no avail.
“Knowing the importance of this match, everyone stepped up. You can see in the last few minutes that no one gave up,” said Nawas.
“We finished with what we had and we worked hard as a team. We didn’t want to lose here,” said Paul Mulders, who was named “Man of the Match. “We’re lucky that they didn’t score also and we got the three points.”
Global Cebu FC remained at fourth spot with 37 points, trailing Ceres Negros FC by just a point. FC Meralco Manila is still at No. 1 with 45 points, while Kaya FC-Makati is second with 41 points.
Global Cebu FC next takes on Kaya FC-Makati on Oct. 21 at the University of Makati Stadium in a crucial away match.
“It is very important if you look at the table,” said Nawas. “With that three points we pulled away from them, but at the end of the day every game matters now is we have to go about and win our games.”