CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Football Club (CFC) thrashed the Manila Diggers Football Club, 4-1, in their game in Copa Paulino Alcantara of the Philippines Football League (PFL) held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Sunday, August 27, 2023.
With the victory, CFC would most likely unseat the University of the Philippines (UP) at the top of the team standings in Group B of the tournament.
But this will depend on the outcome of the game that UP is currently playing against the second-ranked team in Group B, the Maharlika Manila FC. UP must win against the latter in order for them to remain on the top spot.
CFC has two wins and six goals in hand, compared to UP’s two goals.
During the match on Sunday, Turkish forward Arda Cinkir delivered CFC’s first goal at the 14th minute from a timely pass on the right side from Chima Uzoka, just outside the penalty box.
The Manila Diggers managed to hold the scores at 1-0 heading into halftime.
However, CFC found another gap on the Manila Diggers’ defense in the second half after Rintaro Hama scored their first goal at the 61st minute to make it 2-0.
Hama, who came into the match from a substitution, received Charles Dabao’s pass inside the penalty box. Hama, who was left undefended, didn’t hesitate to strike the ball which found the back of the net.
CFC went on to score two more goals in the extra minutes courtesy of Kintaro Miyagi, who also came from a substitution, and Turkish Goktug Demirogulu.
Miyagi scored a header at the 91st minute after securing a loose ball from Uzoka’s missed shot that hit the goal post to put CFC ahead, 3-0.
In the 95th minute, Ivan Ouano secured a free kick to lob the ball to Demirogulu who waited inside the goal box for an easy header to make it 4-0.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Manila Diggers managed to score one goal courtesy of Kobe Stuart in the 93rd minute. / dcb
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