Teknika closes in on Smart-PFF Club Title

Photo by Fritz Gerald Dalida

MANILA—Sudanese scoring machine Izo El-Habbib netted a hat-trick to propel home team Teknika past 10-men Smart San Beda, 3-0, Saturday night in the first leg of the PFF Smart Club Championship final before an appreciative crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

El-Habbib, who also scored in the 2-nil win over Pachanga in the semifinals, struck the opener in the 26th minute by slotting into an open net, before adding two more sensational goals in the second half to put Teknika within a whisker of the title.

The loss left San Beda with a mountain to climb on the return leg at 6 p.m. Monday night, where they would need to win by more than three goals to snatch the crown. A 4-1 win will also not be enough to force extra time as Teknika will also clinch the crown because of the “away goals” rule.

Despite missing key players Phil and James Younghusband, Anto del Rosario and Paul Concepcion, the San Beda booters got the lion’s share of possession, but they were left wanting in quality in finishing inside the penalty box.

Teknika, on the other hand, made its chances count, thanks to the 24-year-old El-Habbib, the United Football League’s top scorer last season.

El-Habbib rushed in behind the San Beda defense to pick up Marlowe Cortes’ long ball before rounding out keeper Ref Cuaresma for the opener, giving Teknika a 1-nil lead at the break.

San Beda was reduced to 10 men when David Fornea, who was their lone attacking threat, was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Jhonny Dalman five minutes into the second half.

The Younghusbands watched helplessly from the stands as El-Habbib, brilliant with the ball at his feet, doubled the lead in the 77th minute with a sublime individual effort, holding off defender Peter Fadrilagan, before firing low past Cuaresma.

El-Habbib capped his sensational display two minutes from time, outwitting two defenders before unleashing another well-placed strike to the bottom corner.

Despite the convincing win, Teknika coach Frank Muescan remains wary of San Beda.

“I wouldn’t count San Beda out considering that the Younghusbands and two other key players will be back,” said Muescan. “A 3-0 lead is not safe.”

San Beda coach Aris Caslib isn’t throwing the towel just yet. “All is not lost,” he said. “With my main players back, we just need to step up (and win the second match).”

“We were bothered by Elhabbib’s opening goal,” Caslib said. “We showed a lot of cohesion and the ability to get to the goal was there, but we lacked finishing.”