UFL Cup: Ceres dethrones Kaya, sets up finals duel vs Global
Ceres-La Salle dethroned Kaya after prevailing 8-7 in a penalty shootout Wednesday night in the United Football League Cup semifinals at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Goalkeeper Michael Casas saved Kaya’s last two spot kicks before defender Juani Guirado buried the penalty that sent Ceres to a second straight finals appearance.
Down to 10 men after Joven Bedic was sent off for a straight red card at the hour mark, Kaya equalized three times, the last at 3-3 in the 72nd minute when Louis Clark beat Casas with a precise header to the bottom corner.
The score remained up until 120 minutes, with penalties needed to settle the game just like last year’s finals when Kaya nipped Ceres to win the title.
Ceres, the reigning league champion, will face Global in the finals on April 16.
Global overcame Stallion, 2-0, to reach the finals for the first time since the 2012 UFL Cup.
Milan Nikolic and former Stallion player Serge Kaole underlined Global’s dominance with a goal each in the first half.
Patrick Reichelt opened the scoring for Ceres with a sliding finish in the eighth minute after a series of passes inside the box. But OJ Porteria leveled the matchfour minutes later, intercepting a weak pass by Guirado to Carlie de Murga.
Adrian Gallardo restored Ceres’ advantage in the 14th minute with a cool finish to the bottom corner after Kaya lost the ball at the edge of its own penalty box.
Porteria’s second goal off another defensive error capped a frenetic first 20 minutes.
Ceres took the lead anew in the 36th minute thanks to De Murga’s glancing header.
But Kaya looked the more dangerous side even after going down to 10 men with Clark sending the game to extra time with his goal.
Clark almost won the game for Kaya in extra time but Casas and the Ceres defense proved equal on his breakaway chance.
Casas rose to the challenge in the shootout, denying Janrick Soriano and Antonio Ugarte. Martin Steuble sent his spot kick to the post giving Kaya a lifeline, but Casas saved Ugarte’s effort before Guirado sealed the dramatic win.
