Bacolod’s Ceres rolls over Stallion, gains UFL FA semis

MANILA, Philippines — Still far from its sharpest form, newly promoted side Ceres La Salle subdued Stallion, 3-1, Sunday night and nailed the first semifinal slot of the first UFL FA League Cup at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Goals from national team standout Carlie de Murga, Spanish striker Adrian Gallardo and substitute Cho Kyum-son boosted the Bacolod-based side against one of the UFL’s perennial contenders.

Living up to its billing as the league’s emerging power, Ceres which further beefed up its lineup with Azkals during the offseason, took a 2-0 lead at the break after a pair of wonderfully worked goals.

“We had to work hard for the win,” said Ceres team manager Ali Go. “There were plenty of lessons to be learned. We can’t afford to relax because the other team could capitalize.”

Go can take encouragement from the fact that the squad has yet to play its finest football in the tournament.

Gallardo powered home a header to finish off a flowing move in the 34th minute before De Murga chipped the ball past Stallion keeper Wilson Munoz four minutes later.

But the Bacolod side had to survive a gallant second half stand from Stallion, which trimmed the deficit, 1-2, on a Belinga Blanchard goal seven minutes after the break.

Blanchard was denied by the crossbar shortly after the goal before a free kick at the edge of the area went narrowly wide as Ceres momentarily looked out of sorts defensively.

Ceres bungled a couple of chances to wrap up the win earlier as Munoz denied Patrick Reichelt from point blank range before a teasing ball from Jeffrey Christiaens inside the box couldn’t find its target.

Cho scored on his first touch of the ball, keeping his poise to steer the ball to the bottom corner three minutes from time as Ceres wrapped up the win.

Global was slated to play Laos Sunday night in another quarterfinal battle.

The league will hold another draw to determine the semifinal pairings on Nov. 4.