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| PinoyFootball.com (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
Known for going all-out from the get-go, Ceres opted to start slow against Laos in their PFF-Smart Club Championship clash at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, and Coach Ali Go has an explanation.
"At the beginning, we knew already that [Laos is] gonna park the bus," the mentor of the national champion told the press after the game.
Go added, "So we had a gameplan. In the first half, I think the boys did the gameplan. We had to break them."
However, he admitted that he still gave pointers to his players at the half when he thought they played a bit too slow.
Go said, "I think the boys, in the first half, they didn't give any effort at all. That's why we talked to them after the first half, 'If you wanna win, you have to give something. You can't just stand there and win the game.' In the second half, I think they did a better job."
He also said that Laos got stunned when Patrick Reichelt headed the go-ahead goal for Ceres in the 56th minute.
"When we scored one goal, they opened up," Go said in particular.
Asked to describe the match, Coach Ali thought that both teams were competitive.
"It's a hard-fought game. Every time we play Laos, it's always like that.... But we did our job. We're on to the semifinals, and I'm happy for that" he said.
Go also said that his team's mindset was tweaked a bit after Kaya only settled for a 2-2 draw with Loyola.
"Our mindset was if Kaya won, we have to score at least five goals. The mindset was different now. A win is a win," he said
Go said that the team will scout Global and Stallion in their respective matches tomorrow.
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