Dynamic Herb Cebu FC banked on a strong performance to dispatch Manila Digger FC in the Copa Paulino Alcantara 2023 last Sunday 27 August 2023 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Playing their second game in Group B, Cebu relied on the performance of Arda Cinkir, Rintaro Hama, Kintaro Miyagi, and Goktug Demiroglu to collect their second win in Group B, and increase their chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
Cinkir opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a neat strike past Reignold Reaso.
However, Cebu had to wait at the hour mark to double their advantage. Daniel Gadia sent an inviting ball into the path of Hama, who fired a half volley to score the second goal.
Joshua Schirmer’s side scored two more goals in stoppage time from Miyagi and Demiroglu, sandwiched by a Manila Digger consolation goal from Kobe Stuart.
In the second match, Ibrahima Ndour scored with virtually the last kick of the match as Maharlika Manila FC defeated the University of the Philippines, 1-0 to go up to seven points.
Both teams relied on a strong defensive performance, but it was Maharlika that eventually found the breakthrough as a scramble in the box in the fifth minute of added time allowed Ndour to slot in the winner.
Sunday’s results saw Maharlika Manila assured of a knockout stage spot with seven points, while Cebu are on six points with two more matches left. UP, however, hopes that results will go their way to advance to the next round as one of the two best third placed teams.