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| Bienvenido Marañon celebrates the Ceres equalizer. Czeasar Dancel/UFL |
By Kevin Estrada
MANILA—Ceres showed league leaders Global the heart of a
reigning champion, coming from two goals behind twice to force a 3-3 draw in a
battle of the top two sides to end the first round fixtures of the league early
Sunday evening at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Spanish connection of Adrian and Bienvenido Marañon
instigated a late fightback with twelve minutes left, scoring two goals in two
minutes to overturn 1-3 hole midway into the second half to save the blushes
for outgoing manager Ali Go in his last match in charge for the Busmen.
For the still unbeaten leaders, Leigh Manson will be left to
rue the missed chances to pull away from the chasing pack as they drop points
for the first time this season despite goals by Ivan Petrovic, captain Misagh
Bahadoran and Hikaru Minegishi thought that they would sweep the first round
unbeaten.
Apart from holding the top two spots, this year’s cup
finalists are also the hottest teams in terms of their winning streaks, as Global
and Ceres knew that a win for either of them will have a lot of implications in
the title race.
The Cup holders knew their attacking intentions right away,
as their pesky pressing game bore fruit thirteen minutes in, as the Serbian
forward struck from close range off a left wing cross from the Azkals mainstay
to open the scoring.
Bahadoran turned from provider to goal-scorer twelve minutes
later, as he beat Louie Casas from 19 yards to double Global’s advantage.
However, Adrian halved the deficit before half time,
converting on a Paul Mulders long ball to beat Patrick Deyto inside the penalty
box to set the tone for the second half.
Action turned up the notch at the restart, as both clubs
knowing that the fourth goal will swing their momentum in their favor.
And Global did just that right before the hour mark, with
the Japanese winger scored from Bahadoran and pounced the ball into the net to
restore their two-goal lead.
But the introduction of Stephan Schrock six minutes after
Minegishi’s goal changed the complexion of the match, as Ceres got the
firepower and speed they have from their biggest signing.
The defending champions displayed their heart and their
quick fire scoring in the 77th minute, as Adrian pulled one back
with a left-footed shot bag his brace and a minute later, Bienve completed the improbable to
equalize from inside the box to send their supporters into joyous rapture
.
Both clubs have taken the physical nature of this fixture
into the higher level, with 10 yellow cards and 1 dismissal were flashed by
referee Krizmark Nanola, as Global lost Jerry Barbaso to a second bookable offence deep into added
time.
Ceres and Global could not find the winner the rest of the
way, but they shared honors as they came close in grabbing all three points in
the dying moments of the match, punctuated with the Global skipper who had his
free kick clanked the crossbar.
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