Naxional trips Tondo, books trip to Brazil for Neymar Jr’s Five

Here’s @hectorzaghi‘s winning goal earlier that secured Naxional’s ticket to Brazil in #NeymarJrsFive Finals pic.twitter.com/JfyYhbHynW

— Mark Giongco (@MarkGiongcoINQ) March 4, 2017

Hector Zaghi scored the winning goal and Naxional booked a trip to Brazil after edging Tondo, 1-0, in a sudden death in Neymar Jr’s Five Finals Saturday at Sparta Philippines in Mandaluyong.

The tournament, which was held in the Philippines for the first time, is out of the ordinary football game with each team fielding only five players at a time in a street-style setting.

The match lasts for only 10 minutes and in case of a tie after the time expires, a one-on-one will settle it with the first player to score winning it for his team.

The winner will get to compete in the Neymar Jr’s Five World Final at Instituto Projeto NeymarJr in Praia Grande late this year.

Zaghi, a United Football League veteran, lofted the ball over Robert Corsame and into the back of the net in a culmination of what had been an fiery match between two very competitive squads.

“I was just looking to score and that was it. I couldn’t think, I’m kind of afraid because the other boy is skillful. I know he (Corsame) plays for the Azkals’ under-22 national team,” Zaghi told INQUIRER.net.

“We both played it safe but I think my experience, I’ve been playing for a while, counted in that last goal.”

READ: ‘Neymar Jr’s Five’ football tournament reaches Manila

Zaghi and Corsame went head-to-head after the two sided went scoreless during the duration of the 10-minute match.

Both muffed a couple of chances to score before the Brazilian striker found the right technique to outwit the 20-year-old Corsame, who plays for Arellano University in the NCAA.

Zaghi’s goal triggered a wild celebration from Naxional and sent Corsame into tears as he met his teammates.

“I felt so disappointed because we weren’t able to win it,” Corsame said in Filipino. “We really want to represent the Philippines in Brazil but we failed. I guess it’s just not for us.”

But the way Tondo made its way to the Finals seemed as if the trip to Brazil and compete against the world’s best in street football was the team’s fate.

Corsame and the rest of his teammates were just late replacements after Chieffy Caligdong and Co. begged off just hours before Saturday’s quarterfinals began.

Mark Balbin, one of Corsame’s teammates said they only knew about it around nine in the morning. They got the call after Tondo finished next to Caligdong’s Baggie FC in the Qualifier B rankings.

But that’s not to say Tondo had it easy.

The team, flaunting its quickness and cohesiveness, had to take down Strafford FC and Manila Tala in impressive fashion.

But the clock finally struck midnight ending Tondo’s Cinderella run against a fancied Naxional side, which dominated the qualifying round last week to emerge as favorites in the playoffs.

Naxional is made up of Mark Daniel Rivera, Miguel Artillera, Roberto Orlandez, Ahmed Abdalla and celebrity Daniel Matsunaga.

In a class act, Matsunaga went on to give his spot to Corsame.

“These kids deserve to be the winners. That’s why I gave all the prizes to them and my ticket to one of them. I know it’s their dream,” said Matsunaga. “I just felt bad because I know how hard their lives are and it’s just sad that they lost and the guys are crying. And if I can do something, I would.”