Ceres-La Salle continued its fine form after giving stallion a 4-1 beating last June 25 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Stephan Shröck lead busmen with a hat-trick while Patrick Reichelt added another goal for Bacolod squad. Christian Nana scored the lone goal for Stallion.
Ceres was in control from the start but Stallion had the best chance in the eight minute. Nathan Alquiros broke away past the defense setting up a one-on-one with Michael Casas but the veteran keeper palmed away the shot to maintain the scoreline.
The Busmen would push for an opener, winning corners, but attempts from the top of the box from Bienvenido Marañon and Lee Jeong Woo were all over the bar. Reichelt found himself in the middle of the box in the 14th minute but he was swarmed by defenders before getting any chance at the goal.
Stallion again had another dangerous chance when Joshua Beloya got through the lines only to be chased by Valentine Kama to avoid another 1v1 opportunity against Casas. The former-Ceres striker laid off to another Stallion player but the shot was blocked in the end.
Simone Rota handled the ball from thirty yards in the 28th giving Ceres a crack at goal. Shröck wasted little time and sent a high dipping ball to the second post beating Roland Sadia and scoring his first for Ceres. Stallion captain Balot Doctora was given a yellow for complaining but FIFA rules does not require a wall to be setup before any free kick can be made. Marañon would have a chance two minutes after but his weak header was collected well by the keeper.
Things got very physical leading to halftime which was highlighted by a foul by Carlo Polli on Shröck but no card was given by the referee. Marañon would try to score from a superb volley from the edge of the box but his shot was cleared out to the goal line in the 42nd.
Ceres would earn its second in the 45th minute when Reichelt’s cross deflected off Josh Grommen’s leg towards the goal making the score 2-0. Fitch Arboleda tried to bring his squad into contention in injury time but his shot from afar was way over the bar. The Busmen were very enterprising in the dying minutes after they created a great passing sequence which allowed Manny Ott to take a shot in front of goal. Sadia however was there to block the shot and save the succeeding follow up.
The defending champs didn’t let up at the start of the second half when Ott provided a great through ball to Shröck who then chipped one over Sadia to get his brace and make it 3-0 for Ceres in the 46th minute. Lee would have another chance two minutes after but his shot was saved. The Korean striker found some space on the right but his shot was blocked by the defense. Shröck would try to get a rebound from the shot but Sadia was again there to collect.
Stallion would get its consolation when Nana’s free kick in the 62nd went in between the wall, curving into the far post to make it 3-1. Doctora tried to score another for stallion minutes after but Casas made up well with a diving save. Reichelt received the ball at the edge of the box in the 86th minute and cleverly lofted the ball upwards towards the direction Shröck. The National team player scampered towards the ball and headed one over a rushing Sadia to complete his hat-trick.
Substitute Nate Burkey had a golden chance moments later but his shot from a Jeff Christaens cutback was over the bar. Stallion would have their own chance in injury time with Yannick Tuason’s attempt but Casas again made a save to secure the 4-1 win.
“I’m happy with the performance especially this game. I think the game plan we did, they followed it with heart. I told them how we played in the second half of JP Voltes (match), that’s what we need in every single game. This is a very special game for us, we have to perform good not only win,” said Ceres Coach Ali Bernard Go.
“Winning now for us is different, winning good that’s what we want. Winning bad, there’s question marks. I think this one we played very good and we won the game. I think its very important to have a very good game today especially were going to Singapore to play Brunei DPMM. They (Brunei) are a strong team also but I’m very positive we can get a result out of the two games,” the Ceres mentor added.
The team will fly to Singapore on the June 28 to participate in a two-legged quarterfinal against Brunei DPMM. The home-and-away matches are scheduled to be played on June 30 and July 3 at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Both Singapore Cup matches will start at 8PM.
