Late Equalizer Denies Kaya FC–Iloilo Victory over Ceres Negros
Kaya FC–Iloilo 1-1 Ceres Negros
Iloilo Sports Complex
It was déjà vu at the Iloilo Sports Complex, except this time the roles were reversed. When Kaya FC–Iloilo and Ceres Negros clashed last month, it was the hosts that snatched the late equalizer to salvage a draw. On this occasion, it was the visitors that needed some late heroics to avoid defeat. Robert Lopez Mendy’s late goal looked to have bagged maximum points for Kaya, only for Kevin Ingreso to level the score shortly after.
“We thought the three points were in the bag, but I’m still happy with the work rate the players put into this game. They really worked hard,” said Iloilo head coach Noel Marcaida. “The first half was dominance for Kaya FC–Iloilo. The second half was a really even game, but I think we had more goal scoring opportunities than Ceres. This is only the fourth game against them, we still have one more on Wednesday, and we’re really looking forward to that. We’re hoping, and we’ll try our best, to get the three points.”
15 minutes into the contest, Ceres’ Toni Doblas barely tipped over Lopez Mendy’s long range looper. From the resulting corner kick, the shot stopper made another save to deny Masanari Omura’s header. His opposite number, Ace Villanueva, who got a second straight start for Kaya, was equally sharp in between the sticks. The young keeper denied Takumi Uesato’s low snap shot on the 26th minute mark. Despite both teams having their moments in attack, a tense first half ended scoreless.
Eric Giganto’s introduction for the injured Camelo Tacusalme after the break sparked a couple dangerous counter attacks for the hosts. On the hour mark, Lopez Mendy broke free on the right flank and cut the ball back to a wide open Giganto, who could only send his effort over. Eric was again involved 15 minutes later on a breakaway on the left flank. After having his initial shot blocked, he recovered the ball and exchanged with Jovin Bedic, who was hit with an elbow before he could receive the pass. The resulting free kick from Lopez Mendy forced another fine stop from Doblas.
Just two minutes later, Robert wouldn’t be denied. Set free by a looping ball from Bedic, Lopez Mendy kept his cool to lift the ball over Doblas for what seemed like the winner. The Iloilo Sports Complex erupted in jubilation, but the celebrations didn’t last long. Just three minutes after, from a free kick from about 23 meters out, Kevin Ingreso hit an unstoppable strike that rifled into the top corner.
The draw pushed Kaya FC–Iloilo to six games unbeaten at the Iloilo Sports Complex, while Lopez Mendy’s strike made it six straight games that he’s found the back of the net.
“I’ve been working for that. But I think my scoring streak is not the best thing to talk about right now because, no matter what, we didn’t get the three points,” he said after being named Man of the Match. “That’s what we wanted. We have been working so hard for that, and I feel a bit disappointed about that draw because we deserved the three points. We had a great chance to beat them today. We didn’t get it, but we’ll try to beat them in the next game.”
Meanwhile, Negros head coach Risto Vidakovic again rued the officiating of the game.
“It was a very tough game. I think the result is okay, both teams deserved to win. But sometimes there are limits. In every game we play, we have some injury because they (referees) allow everything. It’s already too much because, every game I need to take someone out because they kill him, and the referees, they allow everything,” he said. “We never injured anyone. My players are just trying to play football, but of course, it’s very hard. They don’t feel any protection.”
“I hope one day we can enjoy and play football without those things, but I don’t understand,” he added.
The two teams clash again in the league for a fifth and final time on Wednesday, with kickoff scheduled at 4pm.
