THE University of the Visayas (UV) took the lead in men’s football after a highly-entertaining draw with the University of Cebu, 1-1, that had the crowd on the edge of their seats during some of the close misfires at the Cebu City Sports Center.
UV, this year’s early surprise in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), now leads the division at four points after yesterday. USC is second with three points, while UC has a point. Multiple champion University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), which lost to UV on opening 3-0, also has a point after a scoreless draw with the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF).
After a slow start, UV began taking the initiative, winning two early corners and a free kick but the attempts by Vince Duaso and John Carlo Garcia never bothered UC keeper Louie Jay Cabiñas. UC also got a chance in the 15th, with Romelito Gesulga taking advantage of a poor clearance but his shot was also high.
Things got heated in the middle of the first half after some hard fouls from both squads and UC winger Vic Jason Felicilda added to the tension with some minor taunting of the UV defense. Momenters later, referee Dave Intong had to break up the tension after a hard foul by Miracle Segun had at least three UC players rushing at him. However, the Webmasters, the only team to win the Cesafi title after being ranked No. 4 in the eliminations, had the last laugh in the exchange after Drian Gabriel Lim’s low free kick got past the wall and UV keeper Kim Omus.
Despite being a goal down, it was UV that began pressing in the later stages of the first half; a quick counter had UV with bodies in the box but the quick-thinking UC defense cleared the ball before they could take a shot.
But moments later, UV finally hit the equalizer with Segun showing his deft touch. UV won a free kick and sent Segun up front and the burly midfielder redirected the ball to the bottom corner with the gentlest of flicks and with his back to the goal.
Last year’s golden boot awardee John Vargas, who had a brace against USJ-R, could have added to the tally after beating the keeper in another counter but his quickly-taken shot from left flank at an open goal sailed harmlessly wide and high.
Segun also tried his luck with a volley from 30 yards but it was off target, while on the other end, a nice build-up had Felicilda sending a teasing cross to Eduardo Acabo. But instead of simply redirecting the ball, he clipped it too high.
Just before the half-time break, UV got two more chances with Kenneth Archival missing by inches from long distance and Segun also misfiring after a nice build-up.
In the second half, both teams failed to take advantage of their chances. Vargas got free inside the box but got stripped before he could launch a shot, while Vince Duaso’s showed deft ball control in beating three defenders but he couldn’t beat the keeper. Felicilda also got off a shot after a give and go, while a free header by Ronmark Mansueto just sailed high.
Then it was UC’s turn to agonize over its three late chances. A miscommunication between the UV defenders and the keeper had them ball watching, allowing Felicilda to flick in a shot that was just wide. Joseph Limana also managed a shot that was just high, while Acabo’s attempt inside the six-yard box went straight to the keeper. (ML)