ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Striker Aldrin Dolino struck twice as Negros Occidental clinched a highly physical 3-1 victory over Iloilo in extra time of their first-leg finals duel on Thursday for the PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup at the Central Philippine University pitch.
The fleet-footed Dolino opened the scoring in the 13th minute and sealed the outcome with another goal seven minutes from the end of extra time as the visiting Negrenses frustrated the Ilonggos, who finished the game with only nine players on the pitch.
The Negrenses will carry their two-goal cushion to the second leg in Bacolod on Sunday at the Panaad Stadium. Iloilo needs to win by three goals to wrest the crown, a tall order considering how evenly matched both teams are.
Regulation play ended at 1-all and the two teams were actually surprised that organizers ordered the game sent into extra time, which was usually not done in the first of a two-leg final. The extra time scenario, if needed, is usually conducted in the second leg.
For a while, officials appeared clueless on what should be done, although tournament rules state that extra time will be conducted even in the first leg.
“I didn’t like the way we played tactically, but we stayed focus in extra time,” said Negros coach Norman Fegidero.
Negros rediscovered its ruthless form in the extra session as Joven Bedic rifled home the go-ahead goal with a thunderous strike from 10 yards five minutes into first half, just moments after Iloilo keeper Wilson Muñoz was sent off for a deliberate handball.
Iloilo’s fortunes turned from bad to worse as Rhanty Bayquin followed Muñoz to the showers in the 112th minute after a clumsy challenge on Jake Morallo for a second yellow card.
With top scorer Joshua Beloya tightly marked, Dolino cut loose on the right to score the first goal from a difficult angle. Dolino bagged his second in an even tighter angle a minute after Bayquin’s dismissal.