MIDFIELDER Arnie Pasinabo Jr. of San Carlos City nailed Ceres Negros FC’s important goal in the 77th minute to force a one-all draw against host-Ilocos United FC in their first face-off at the Quirino Stadium Saturday.
In the 2017 Philippines Football League, the Ilocos-based club which used to suffer huge setbacks against the Busmen at Panaad Park in Bacolod City was a different team this time.
It came out playing good defense and with counter-attacks in the first half. Ilocos United skipper Adam Mitter, successfully beaten by the Busmen’s off-side trap, scot free sent a go-ahead goal past Ceres custodian Roland Muller for the lead in the 36th minute.
Trailing one-nil down, the Negros-based side tried to find a way to score but their shots were off target until Pasinabo finally got his reward.
In the post-match press conference, Ceres FC coach Risto Vidakovic said that his team missed lots of opportunities in the first half.
“I think the intention was to finish the game in the first half. But obviously, it was different. So we tried to score a goal in the second half but, we also missed our chances,” he said.
Facing Ilocos United Monday in their back-to-back away game in Ilocandia, Vidakovic said that they need to make some adjustments.
Vidakovic admitted that the result was also a test for the team.
“The players need to train more because this is very dangerous,” he said.
Ceres Negros FC remained at No. 2 in the table with 53 points behind leader FC Meralco Manila with 54.
