Ceres-Negros FC exorcised their demons to come out with a big 5-0 win over JPV Marikina last October 28 at the Panaad Stadium. The busmen finally broke their winless run over the Japanese flavored side in the PFL.
The home team blitzed the visitors scoring three quick goals first seven minutes. Iain Ramsay’s persistence in the middle allowed him to poke the ball towards Fernando Rodriguez who did a fine one-two play with OJ Porteria before slotting in the opener in the 3rd minute.
Stephan Schrock pinged the ball to Bienvenido Maranon who immediately redirected towards goal to make it 2-0 and shock the JPV defense. Ramsay completed the three-goal run in the seventh minute after latching on a deflected clearance inside the box.
JPV had a chance at goal minutes later with Kouichi Belgira skipped past Roland Muller to have a try at goal but his shot was blocked by Kota Kawase just in front of goal. Ceres almost scored a fourth when a long distance volley from Rodriguez hit the cross bar.
The 27th saw Takumi Uesato going past Kawase before taking a shot on goal. Super Herrera blocked the attempt to clear the danger for the home squad. Takashi Odawara dispossessed Herrera in the danger area but his deflected shot was collected by Muller.
Ceres-Negros had a great chance when Schrock found Rodriguez in the box. The Spaniard tried to flick one past Tripulca but the keeper does well to block the shot. Satoshi Otomo blasted a 25-yard free kick towards Muller but the ball was handled well by the veteran keeper for safety. The half ended with Ceres-Negros leading 3-0 over their nemesis.
The busmen started with the same intensity in the second half and were in the score sheet just four minutes in. A Schrock run from the wings resulted to a shot on goal, forcing a block from the keeper. Porteria gets the rebound before striking it to the back of the net for the fourth goal.
Odawara would make his presence felt just before the hour mark when he volleyed in a corner that tapped wide by Muller. Omid Nazari broke the offside trap before attempting a chip what was saved well by Tripulca.
It was in the 80th minute when Maranon outsmarted the JPV defense for his second goal of the night. The Spanish midfielder faked his defender before he evaded the keeper for the tap-in.
Ceres-Negros almost scored a sixth but a header by Rodriguez off a Dodz Pasinabo cross was way over. A fine buildup by the visitors inside the box was wasted when Uesato’s touch failed him in front of goal. Otomo had a dangerous run in the box but Joshua Grommen chased him well to earn a goal kick.
JPV substitute Boyet Canedo was sent off in injury time after a high tackle to Porteria in the middle of the park. The referee had no hesitation to give a straight red for the San Carlos native who had a clear intent to hurt. The final whistle blew with Ceres-Negros getting a 5-0 result.
“We went out with a different mentality, a different attitude,” said Risto Vikadovic. “We need it because we need to recover from the last two games against Stallion and for a lot of things. In Binan, we didn’t play good in two games. One game we had a good result but both games we didn’t play good. We need to recover in football and especially the attitude from the players. I think this is the right way we have to go,” added the Ceres Coach.
Bienvenido Maranon was named man of the match and he echoed the same sentiment as his coach. “We talked in the locker room about the game. This game we have to start three-hundred percent and with intensity. We start(ed) like this and five minutes its was three-zero. We want to play like this every game but sometimes I understand the people are tired because its too many games in a row. But its okay. Today we were focused to start like this and we made noise but with this intensity its more easy to win the game.”
Ceres-Negros will face the Davao Aguilas on Thursday November 2 at the Panaad Stadium. It will be the Bacolod debut of Angel Guirado and brothers James and Phil Younghusband in the colors of Davao. Kickoff is slated at 7pm with free entrance to the grandstand and bleachers.
Congratulations Ceres
Keep up the good work