Pasargad rounds out Smart nat’l clubs semis cast

UNITED Football League side Pasargad needed extra time to dump General Trias International, 1-0, and complete the semifinal cast of the PFF Smart National Club Championship Sunday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

A stunning strike from new signing Angelo Marasigan deep into extra time propelled Pasargad, which earned the right to face another UFL side, Green Archers Globe, in the semifinals.

The Archers came away with a 1-0 conquest of Pachanga Diliman earlier, courtesy of a goal from national skipper Chieffy Caligdong, also in extra time.

All four quarterfinal matches were decided by a single goal with Kaya dispatching Loyola Meralco, 1-0, and Ceres dethroning Global, also 1-0, Saturday.

Pasargad hung tough in the face of relentless pressure from the all-Korean side in the opening half.

Marasigan, a Fil-Belgian making his debut for Pasargad, justified his billing as the club’s key acquisition with a 20-yard strike that flustered General Trias.

Marasigan was dropped from the PH Under-22 side in the Bolkiah Cup just before the AFC Under-22 qualifying in Myanmar due to disciplinary issues.

The semifinal matches are scheduled Saturday with Kaya and giant-killer Ceres squaring off at 4 p.m., followed by the Pasargad-Archers duel.