Hiroshi keeps title retention bid alive

CEBU, Philippines - Hiroshi FC bolstered its title retention bid with a 2-1 squeaker over the equally-tough San Roque FC to advance into the men's open final of the 12th CAFC Interclub Football Cup yesterday at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center field in Brgy. Talamban, this city.

Hiroshi FC broke the ice of the match after Peter Martin Dionela converted a 30-yard shot at the 11th.

The two protagonists then locked themselves up in a tight defensive battle, with neither side scoring for a span of 70 minutes.

It was only at the 81st when San Roque's Andrian Mejaran sneaked in a goal to equalize the count at 81-all.

But San Roque's joyful moment was shotlived when two minutes later, Ryan Bordalba sneaked in the game-winning goal for Hiroshi FC.

The defending champion, however, suffered a minor drawback after one of its key players Rogelio Castillon was slapped with his second yellow card of the tournament.

Castillon, thus, will miss Hiroshi's championship match today either against ERCO or Queen City United at USC-TC.

In the boys 17 category, Abellana National School/Pomeroy and the Cebu team disposed off separate foes to set up a title showdown.

Pedro Diao sank the game-clincher as ANS/Pomeroy escaped past Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, 4-3, via penalty shootout, while the Cebu squad humiliated PAREF-Springdale, 7-0.

SHS-Ateneo still has something to look forward to as it advanced into the players 10 final against Canduman FC.

SHS-AdC subdued Count FC, 1-0, while Canduman pulled off a 4-3 cliffhanger over Los Amigos, 4-3.

The players 10 and boys 12 finals will be played at PAREF-Springdale. (FREEMAN)