SUBSTITUTE Daniel Gadia nailed the game-winner in the 86th minute to rescue FC Meralco Manila past Global Cebu, 2-1, and bolster its hold of the top of the table in the Philippines Football League (PFL) last Sunday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Gadia checked in the 79th minute and made his presence felt six minutes later, allowing the Sparks to amass 57 points and keep Ceres Negros at bay by four points.
“All week we had been reminding Gadia to just place the ball in his finishing. In the last 15 minutes of the game, he did his job well,” Meralco Coach Aris Caslib said.
Global had a golden opportunity to level the count anew in stoppage time, but Rufo Sanchez’s attempt was denied by Meralco goalie Ace Villanueva.
Tahj Minniecon opened scoring for Manila in the 33rd minute, but the Cebuanos equalized five minutes later behind Pika Minegishi.
Global remained at No. 4 with 44 points, enough for a berth in the tournament’s next phase that kicks off on December 2.
Davao Aguilas and Ilocos United, meanwhile, played for pride and pulled off shocking upsets of semifinal-bound clubs Kaya Makati and Ceres-Negros, respectively, last Saturday.
Davao Aguilas beat third-placer Kaya Makati, 3-1, at the University of Makati Stadium behind Angel Guirado’s two goals and one from Harrison Sawyer.
Ilocos United, like Davao already out of contention, shocked No. 2 Ceres Negros with a 1-1 draw at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.
Davao and Ilocos remained at the bottom of the table with 18 and nine points, respectively.