Davao’s Troy Limbo celebrates after scoring a goal against Cebu FC in the Copa Paulino Alcantara. | Photo from the PFL.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Football Club hit a brick wall after losing to the Davao Aguilas-University of Makati, 0-1, in the first of their two-leg semifinals of the Copa Paulino Alcantara of the Philippines Football League (PFL), last Saturday, October 21, 2023, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The defeat came roughly a week after Cebu FC punched its way into the semifinals by beating Mendiola Manila FC, 4-1, in the quarterfinals.
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Limbo scores for Davao Aguilas
Troy Limbo scored the lone goal for the Aguilas at the 37th minute. Mario Javier Clarino perfectly executed a cross pass to Limbo sprinting on the left side.
Limbo didn’t strike the ball immediately by making sure he gets into the penalty area for a better angle, before he slid the ball at the back of the net.
It was an unprecedent upset for the Aguilas as Cebu FC came into the semifinals as the more favored team, considering they finished as the second overall placers in last year’s PFL season and one of its representatives in the AFC Cup.
After the final whistle blew, Cebu FC had the better ball possession of 55 percent while Davao was slightly off with 45 percent.
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Cebu FC has chance to enter finals, but…
However, the Aguilas had six shots with five on target, whereas Cebu that only had four shots with three on target.
Cebu FC still has a chance to overturn their situation since their semifinals date with the Aguilas have two legs. The second leg is on November 4.
The Gentle Giants must score at least two goals or more to nose out the Aguilas in the aggregate goal, in order for them to advance in the finals.
This was the Gentle Giants’ first loss of the tournament.
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