Cebu beats Iligan, 2-1
FIRST-timers Presley Cunningham and Gabi Mercado saved an understaffed Cebu City in their thrilling 2-1 win over Iligan City in the first day of the Philippine Football Federation National Women's Open in Dumaguete City yesterday.
The two Cebu International School students, who are playing in their first National Women's Open, scored a goal each for Cebu's hard-earned win, which was compounded by a strong downpour.
"It's very hard to run because the ball gets stuck," said coach Dexter Arrojado, who still lacks four players for the 10-team tournament.
"Two of my players' spikes also got damaged, it's a good thing there are cheap spikes here, so they were able to buy a replacement," said Arrojado, whose team, Queen City, topped the Aboitiz Women's Open in Cebu recently.
Cunningham got Cebu ahead in the 15th minute after tapping in a mishandled cross.
After Iligan equalized, both teams scrambled for a winner before Mercado, who also played for Cebu in the National Girls 17 finals last summer, provided the heroics in injury time.
After the Iligan keeper again mishandled a shot, the wily Mercado tapped in the loose ball to the empty net for their win.
Cebu City will gun for win number two today against host Dumaguete City and will face Sultan Kudarat in their final Group A match on Wednesday.
A win today will assure them of a semifinal spot as Dumaguete posted a lopsided 18-0 win over Sultan Kudarat yesterday.
"Most of the Sultan Kudarat players are newcomers," said Arrojado.
Only the top teams in each of the three groups and the best second-ranked team will advance to the semifinals.
Also yesterday, defending champion Davao City buried Zamboanga City, 10-0, while newcomer National Capitol Region, which did not participate last year, routed Bacolod City, 8-0, and Cagayan de Oro defeated Iloilo, 1-0.
The two Cebu International School students, who are playing in their first National Women's Open, scored a goal each for Cebu's hard-earned win, which was compounded by a strong downpour.
"It's very hard to run because the ball gets stuck," said coach Dexter Arrojado, who still lacks four players for the 10-team tournament.
"Two of my players' spikes also got damaged, it's a good thing there are cheap spikes here, so they were able to buy a replacement," said Arrojado, whose team, Queen City, topped the Aboitiz Women's Open in Cebu recently.
Cunningham got Cebu ahead in the 15th minute after tapping in a mishandled cross.
After Iligan equalized, both teams scrambled for a winner before Mercado, who also played for Cebu in the National Girls 17 finals last summer, provided the heroics in injury time.
After the Iligan keeper again mishandled a shot, the wily Mercado tapped in the loose ball to the empty net for their win.
Cebu City will gun for win number two today against host Dumaguete City and will face Sultan Kudarat in their final Group A match on Wednesday.
A win today will assure them of a semifinal spot as Dumaguete posted a lopsided 18-0 win over Sultan Kudarat yesterday.
"Most of the Sultan Kudarat players are newcomers," said Arrojado.
Only the top teams in each of the three groups and the best second-ranked team will advance to the semifinals.
Also yesterday, defending champion Davao City buried Zamboanga City, 10-0, while newcomer National Capitol Region, which did not participate last year, routed Bacolod City, 8-0, and Cagayan de Oro defeated Iloilo, 1-0.
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