MANILA – Dynamic Herb Cebu Football Club surged ahead in the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League after a 3-1 victory over Mendiola 1991 Football Club over the weekend at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
Ivan Ouano, Marius Kore and Kintaro Miyagi scored a goal each as the Cebu City-based football club took the solo lead in the standings with 43 points on 13 wins, four draws and a loss.
The victory also allowed the Dynamic Herb-Cebu to overtake Visayas rival Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo, which dropped to second place with 42 points on 14 victories and three defeats.
Both squads displayed the defensive game in the opening half courtesy of goalkeepers Joseph Ceniza for Mendiola 1991 and Florencio Badelic for Dynamic Herb-Cebu that maintained a scoreless draw at the half.
Dynamic Herb-Cebu finally broke the ice in the 54th minute courtesy of Ouano, who went past four Mendiola 1991 defenders before firing the goal past the defense of Ceniza from a pass by Mert Altinoz.
The Cebuano booters managed to double the advantage five minutes later as Kore sneaked past the Mendiola 1991 defense and calmly converted the free kick.
Cameroonian forward Junior Sam pulled one back for Mendiola 1991 after he ran from half the pitch before going past the entire Cebu defense and knocking the ball past Badelic in the 79th minute.
Mendiola 1991, however, suffered a massive blow after Ceniza was slapped with a straight red card by the game officials for his altercation with Dynamic Herb-Cebu’s Rintaro Hama.
With Mendiola 1991 reduced to 10-men, Miyagi easily blew past his defender to widen the Dynamic Herb-Cebu’s advantage late in the contest.
With the loss, Mendiola 1991 FC remained at fifth place in the six-team field with six points, on two victories and 13 defeats./PN
