Leylam wins F5WC Phl leg, earns spot in Dubai world finals

MANILA, Philippines – Big things come in small packages.

The smallest man on the field scored the biggest goal that earned Leylam FC team B a spot in the 32-nation Football Fives World Championships (F5WC) in Dubai next month.

The 5-foot-2 Michael Pacite hit the marginal goal in a neck-and-neck F5WC Phl leg finals as the Cebu-based amateur football club came away with 1-0 win over Bicol’s Aspire FC.

The winning play came past the halfway mark of the second half in the 20-minute match. After a great defensive play, Ruffy Llorente pushed the ball up to Carlo Tacusalme, who found a rushing Pacite on the left flank.

A beautiful cross from Tacusalme assisted the picture-perfect goal of Pacite against Aspire FC’s goalie in a one-on-one play near the goal mouth.

“Alam ko na na para sa amin talaga ‘tong laban na ‘to,” said the 26-year old Pacite, who works for Leylam Shawarma in Cebu but hails from Bacolod.

Pacite, aptly called “Mighty Mouse” in Cebu, was mobbed by his teammates.

Following the short celebration, Leylam tightened on defense to fashion the grind-it-out win.

“We really work and prepared hard for this tournament,” said the Turkish Leylam co-owner Cem Tasci.

Oliver Colina, a former Southeast Asian Games player, coached the Leylam teams, which almost figured in the finals not until Aspire FC scored a 2-0 win over Leylam A via penalty shootout in the semifinals.

Leylam B beat Manila Tigers, 3-1, in the semifinals to advance and the chance to avenge their sister team’s heartbreaking loss.  

“For us, it’s a very good experience especially for a team like us coming from Cebu,” said Colina, who played for Kaya FC before switching to coaching.

When we go to Dubai, it’s not only for Cebu but we’re playing for the Philippines. So we’re going to work hard and represent well,” said Leylam co-owner Ugur Tasci.

It was the second major amateur football tournament won by Leylam FC in the last four months. Colina also guided the club to the seven aside-Alaska Cup title last December.