source: By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA—Smart San Beda overcame Stallions of Iloilo, 2-1, Monday night to reach the finals of the PFF Smart National Championships at the University of Makati pitch.
Vaughn Melendres and Elizear Fabroada scored a goal each in the first half that proved enough for San Beda to hold off Stallions and advance to the two-game finals starting Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
San Beda, representing Rizal FA, will meet with Teknika who shut out Pachanga FC, 2-0, in the semis Wednesday.
Melendres opened the scoring in the 16th minute, finishing from close range after getting a through ball from Phil Younghusband, before Fabroada doubled the lead 20 minutes later with another well-placed strike.
Stallions cut the deficit in the 62nd minute, thanks to Ruben Doctora’s strike from just outside the box, but San Beda hung tough to foil the Ilonggos, who, despite their impressive passing plays, couldn’t seem to find the final pass to completely break down their rivals.
Victory, though, came with a price as standouts James and Phil Younghusband were booked during the game, forcing them out in the first leg of the finals. The second leg is set Monday night.
“We were lucky to win this match,” said San Beda coach Aris Caslib. “The rest of my boys would just have to step up in the first leg without the Younghusbands.”
Phil was given a yellow card in the first half for absent-mindedly bringing a water bottle at the middle of the pitch while James was cautioned in the final minute of injury time for excessive complaining.
With Anto Gonzales pulling strings at midfield, San Beda controlled the early exchanges and looked dangerous on the counterattack.
Gonzales, a former national team player who is now coach of UAAP champion University of the Philippines, was a workhorse, stymieing Stallions’ midfield play while also carving up several scoring own chances.
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