Red card day

THE University of San Carlos (USC) trounced the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 3-0, in a heated season opener of the collegiate division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) football tournament at the sweltering USC-Technology Center football pitch yesterday.

USC, the 2006 Cesafi champions, wasted little time, as it scored the first goal of the match, compliments of former Abellana National School winger Folkhanes Antony with just four minutes off the clock. Antony struck from the left side after a well-calculated cross pass from USC captain and ace striker Kyle Soriano.

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USPF attempted to even the match, but even with a couple of good opportunities for an equalizer, the ball would just go out of bounds or would end up in the hands of Paolo Pascual, who had a clean sheet.

After the break, Antony showcased his superior football skills, scoring USC’s second goal of the match in the 51st minute. Antony stole the ball from a USPF defender and dribbled his way to a strike from point blank range.

Following a short goal celebration, Antony stole the ball again from a USPF defender but instead of scoring, he returned the favor to Soriano, who scored in the 18-yard box in the 53rd from a ground pass.

Unfortunately, Soriano’s excellent performance was ruined after he was given a red card after an altercation with two USPF players, Edmar Galicio and Jehiel Pelanio.

Galicio was also sent out of the game while Pelanio was given a yellow card.

USC will miss the services of Soriano and Josephus Bernaldez, who was also given a red card after a nasty tackle, in its meeting with University of the Visayas this Sunday, while Galicio will also be in a one-match suspension and won’t suit up in USPF’s game against defending champions University of San Jose-Recoletos.