CQCU-A vs Crazy Horse in men’s open
THE CEBU QUEEN City United (CQCU) A and the CrazyHorse set up a finals clash for the men’s open title of the 14th Aboitiz Football Cup after winning their respective semifinals matches yesterday at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
This is the first time the two teams will meet for the men’s open title of the Aboitiz Football Cup.
The last time they met in the same tournament was in 2009, wherein CrazyHorse frustrated CQCU for the men’s league title.
This year, the Cebu Football Association (CFA) decided to hold only the men’s open category after a men’s U23 and men’s U19 were added to the tournament.
The winners in these three categories will be representing Cebu in various regional and national tournaments.
CrazyHorse clinched its finals ticket with a 3-0 dumping of Don Bosco United Football Club (DBUFC) A while CQCU A outsmarted University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) Alumni, 3-1, for its finals entry.
Article continues after this advertisementCrazyHorse scored its three goals in the 30-minute extension after the match in regulation ended in a scoreless draw.
Article continues after this advertisementHayato Ayabe penetrated the DBUFC A’s defense six minutes into the extension to put CrazyHorse one up.
Bernard Rotich contributed his goal in the 20th minute while Mitsuo Tsunakiri put CrazyHorse out of reach when he scored with just four minutes left in the extension.
In the other semifinals match, USJ-R scored early at the 5th minute on a header by Robert Mamac.
In the second half, CQCU picked up its game with relentless attacks to the goal while USJ-R was hounded with bad passing and inability to control the ball.
Benedict Arriola finally got the best of USJ-R’s goalkeeper in the 66th minute when he found the back of the net.
Arriola once again struck in the 74th minute on a one-on-one with a USJ-R defender to give CQCU a one-point lead at 2-1.
CQCU continued its offensive attack and with two minutes left, Rommel Cuizon sealed CQCU’s entry in the finals.
The winner in the men’s open will represent Cebu in the Philippine Football Federation Smart Men’s Club Championship. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON
