CERES Negros had a goal spree in the first half before settling for a 4-1 victory over JPV Marikina in the 2018 Philippines Football League at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
Stephan Schrock spearheaded the lopsided win with two goals while Mike Ott and Patrick Reichelt added one each for Ceres on Wednesday night.
After missing its first attempt in the fourth minute, the defending champion barged to the scoring column in the seventh minute as Ott converted from a pass by Jose Elmer Porteria.
Just a minute later Ceres was able to increase the advantage to two as Schrock buried a shot with a well-struck header off a cross from Reichelt.
JPV pulled one back in the 17th minute as Keigo Moriyasu scored off a wonderful lob that beat Ceres’ goalkeeper Louie Casas.
Ceres had an opportunity to increase the lead back to two with an attempt from Schrock but the midfielder misfired.
The Busmen were able to restore the two-goal lead just before halftime break with Reichelt making sure he scored with a close-range conversion from an excellent pass from Schrock.
Ceres widened its lead further in the second half with Schrock powering his way from the half-line to beat everyone and score over JPV’s goalkeeper Nestor Gasic.
Already reeling from the absence of key players Manuel Ott, Bienvenido Marañon and Carli de Murga, Ceres was decimated to 10 men in the second half – Porteria and JPV head coach Dan Padernal were sent off after a commotion – but this obviously hardly affected the outcome of the match.
Ceres continued to be on top of the standings with 35 points on 11 wins, two draws and one loss while JPV remained on fifth place with 10 points on three wins, one draw and 10 losses./PN
