CERES Negros FC and Global Cebu FC took Leg 1 of the two-legged semi-final matches of the 2017 Philippines Football League at the University of Makati and Rizal Memorial Stadium, respectively.
On Sunday, Kaya FC and Ceres got some chances in the first half as Kaya FC-Makati’s Marwin Angeles invaded the Busmen’s defense but Roland Muller picked the ball.
Stephan Schrock displayed great dribbling skills, escaping two Kaya defenders, but his shot went over the bar. Iain Ramsay almost got his chance to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute, however, his shot went straight to Kaya keeper Ref Cuaresma.
Ceres’s Bienvenido Marañon got another opportunity on the possible breakaway but Cuaresma bravely saved the ball while Jordan Mintah almost gifted Kaya in the 33rd minute except that Muller was there for the catch.
Both clubs worked hard to score and defensively, and were successful in keeping each off the target as the half ended scoreless.
In the second half, Carli de Murga almost made the goal off the cross from Kevin Ingreso, but his shot hit the cross bar as Cuaresma safely tapped the ball.
With time winding down, Mintah earned possession in transition and almost hit a goal in the 88th minute after beating Busmen defenders at the baseline. The shot hit the bar and the Busmen secured control.
It was Stephan Schrock who lifted Ceres FC to a one-nil edge when he overcame Kaya defenders from the left flank and struck the ball past Cuaresma in the 90+3 minutes.
Global Cebu FC took a while before completing a comeback victory in the last three minutes of the match.
After Tahj Minniecon put the FC Meralco Manila Sparks ahead on a penalty in the 62nd minute, Wesley Dos Santos scored the equalizer in the 90th minute. Pika Minegishi won the game in the 90+3 minute with a low driven strike.
Second leg of the semi-finals will be simultaneously played on Saturday, December 9 at 7 p.m. Ceres FC hosts Kaya FC at Panaad Stadium while Global FC plays Meralco still at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.