National Women's Football: Cebuanas enter semifinal round

Cebu's Queen City United (QCU) lady booters blasted off Rizal, 3-0, to enter the semifinal round in the 2005 Philippine Football Federation National Women's Championship at the Tiongko field in Davao City.

The absence of coach Richard Montayre, who came back to Cebu for an important business engagement, did not hinder the Cebuanas from keeping their momentum going as they chalked their third straight victory.

Glen Quishido, an officer of QCU, took over the coaching chores for Montayre, who will be back in time for the semifinals clash.

Rhodora "Mommy" Toledo initiated the barrage of goals for QCU by scoring two.

Toledo came out pushing from the outside before kicking it directly towards the goalie, which successfully slipped past the keepers' hands for the Cebuanas 1-0 lead at the 34th minute.

"Dugay mi naka-score, the first four minutes of the game wala naka- position ug tarong. We lack presence of mind," said skipper Jan Salac.

About fifteen minutes at the half, Salac joined in the scoring as she extended Cebu's lead to a 2-0 blitz.

To add more woes to Rizal booters, Toledo, wife of coach Eleazar Toledo of Bright Academy, sent a breakaway shot before a one-on-one with the goalkeeper en route to a comfortable 3-0 victory.

"We controlled ninety percent of the game. In the second half we sent in our second stringers and let our first 11 players rest," said Salac.

The Cebuanas have avoided a clash with defending champion Davao City by topping bracket A and will face off Cagayan de Oro City, who placed second in bracket B in the semifinals tomorrow.

Davao takes on Ilo-ilo City in the other semifinals battle.

Cebu have defeated Cagayan de Oro last summer in the Cebu Inter-club Football Invitational Cup.

"Lig-on sad sila (Cagayan) most of its players are still intact but have reinforced some key players," added Salac.