Negros XI breaks Cebu's hearts

The visiting Negros Occidental FA booters came up with a spectacular comeback as they rallied from a 0-2 deficit to break the hearts of Cebu FA, 3-2, at the start of PFF Visayas Regional Football Under-17 Championships yesterday at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit football field in Cebu Business Park.

Thus, Negros Occidental needs only to beat Iloilo in its next assignment to wrap up the championship of the three-day tilt sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation and organized by the Cebu Football Association headed by Jonathan "Maxi" Maximo.

It was a heartbreak of a loss for Cebu as it went off to blistering start. Playing aggressive offense, Evan James Mendoza broke the ice of the match at the 11th off a follow-up shot.

Four minutes later, Michael Sharpe, one of the most seasoned players in Cebu roster, responded well to coach Mario Ceniza's instructions and zoomed for another goal to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

That came to be their brightest moment as in a sudden twist of fate, the Cebu FA mainstays flirted with disaster from that point on.

Ronald Tamsi scored NOFA's first goal with just five minutes gones by in the second half to pull his team within 1-2.

Sharpe had a chance to score another goal for Cebu, but missed. Moments later, his teammate Timothy James Mateo was taken out of the game due to knee injury.

Luck seemed to sway on NOFA's side as John Mulliken knocked in a goal to tie the count, 2-2, at the 67th.

Sensing the Cebuanos already ran out of gas, the NOFA stalwarts kept on pressuring the hosts with their porous defense stance. They had great success in that aspect as Anthony Clark Maderazo was slapped with a yellow card.

As the Cebuanos yielded to pressure, JR Baguiro made the most out of the opportunity by bombing out the game-clinching goal for Negros Occidental at the 82nd.

"The physical condition wasn't there. The players were already complaining. Negros never gave up even with a 0-2 deficit. At halftime, I told them to fight, but they didn't," said Ceniza.