The men’s Open title match of the 12th Cebu Interclub Football Cup today will be a mouth watering rematch between defending champions Hiroshi Football Club and the Queen City United which carries with it a P100,000 cash prize.
Hiroshi FC snatched the title from QCU last year via penalty shootout, 4-3 after regulation ended at 1-all.
Both teams advanced to another titular battle after Hiroshi FC edged San Roque Football Club (SRFC), 2-1, while QCU survived ERCO FC-PTT, 1-0, in yesterday’s semifinals.
Hiroshi FC draw first blood via an 11th minute long shot by Peter Martin Dionela. After that early surprise, SRFC stepped up its defense and managed to contain the defending champions to only a goal going into halftime.
Then at the 75th minute, an altercation ensued when Hiroshi FC’s Jhovan James Bacus fell to the ground clutching his face. He was allegedly punched by Reno Siaboc who was red carded leaving SRFC with only 10 men on the field.
But with only seven minutes remaining in regulation, Adrianne Mejaran picked up a cross which escaped the clutches of Hiroshi’s Ryan Bordalba and scored the equalizer to the defending champions’ dismay.
Bordalba, however, made up for his mistake two minutes later by giving Hiroshi the lead at 2-1.
SRFC had another chance to level the match but Bernard Rotich’s attempt went over the goal’s bar.
SRFC refused to concede the game and almost forced an extension when Hiroshi’s goalkeeper Henderson Jay Campo was out of position on a goalmouth scramble, luckily Mark Hilay was there to kick the ball out in defense.
In the QCU-ERCO semifinal match, Rodney Gandiongco gave QCU a chance to avenge its loss to Hiroshi last year by scoring QCU’s lone goal at the 75th minute.
In the boys 17, Abellana National School (ANS) Pomeroy will defend its title against the Cebu Team after both beat their semis foes.
ANS prevailed over Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), 4-3, in penalty shootout after regulation ended at 2-all.
The Cebu Team, on the other hand, routed Springdale, 8-0.
The boys 14 title will be contested by SHS-AdC and Canduman FC after both teams scored seimilar 1-0 wins over Los Amigos and ANS-Pomeroy, respectively.
Dinamo South FC will contest the boys 12 title against SHS-AdC after winning via penalty shootout over Canduman FC A, 5-4.
The players 10 title will be disputed by SHS-AdC and Canduman FC who blanked Los Amigos, 3-0, and Count FC, 1-0, respectively.
The final matches in the men’s Open, 40 Above, boys 17 and boys 14 will be held at the University of San Carlos Technological Center field while the championships in the boys 12 and players 10 will be held at Paref Springdale.