POST-MATCH PRESSCON. Ceres-Negros FC midfielder Stephan Schrock (right) with head coach Risto Vidakovic during the post-match press conference at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City on Wednesday night (June 20, 2018). (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
BACOLOD CITY -- Injury-hit Ceres-Negros pulled away after beating JPV Marikina, 4-1, at the Panaad Stadium here Wednesday night to keep hold of the top spot in the Philippines Football League (PFL).
The Busmen, now with 35 points, is 12 points clear of Kaya FC-Iloilo and Davao Aguilas, both tied for second place with 23 points each.
While head coach Risto Vidakovic lamented his key players’ injury issues, Stephan Schrock, who scored two goals, remained upbeat about the team’s situation.
“We have struggles, of course, but you cannot blame anyone when we’re playing every three days. I am just happy to get a good result,” Schrock said during the post-match press conference.
The Fil-German midfielder, who was named “Man of the Match”, said he is looking forward to the team’s second PFL trophy after winning last year’s inaugural tournament.
“We will get it, regardless. We’re working for that every day, (through) hard work, and at the end of the season, we will get the reward,” he added.
On Wednesday night, Ceres-Negros delivered early goals when Mike Ott scored in the seventh minute followed by Schrock’s assault in the eighth.
JPV Marikina’s Keigo Moriyasu bypassed Ceres keeper Louie Michael Casas to score in the 17th.
Playing in the second half with only 10 men, the home team remained relentless with Patrick Reichelt’s goal in the 54th and another from Schrock in the 54th.
Ceres forward OJ Porteria and JPV Marikina head coach Dan Padernal were sent off before the start of the second half following an encounter at halftime.
With Ceres missing the services of its three key players due to injuries, Vidakovic raised concern over the apparent lack of action on the incident that caused eye injury to midfielder Manny Ott during their previous match against JPV Marikina. “The guy who kicked Manny is still playing, so I don’t know,” he said.
With another match set against JPV Marikina still at the Panaad Stadium on Saturday, Vidakovic said, “We don’t have time to prepare. We just have to rest and play another game Every time we play, we lose a player. Now, we are maybe 13, 14. We have many injuries, many players are injured.”
Aside from Manny Ott, striker Bienvenido Marañon and defender Carli de Murga were also on the injured list.
Meanwhile, JPV Marikina assistant coach Frank Muescan said they came to match Ceres-Negros’ capacity and level of play but they were just “unlucky” on Wednesday night.
He added that Padernal being sent off before the restart also “mentally-affected” the players. (PNA)
