The
first game of the two sister teams pitted them against each other.
Lateo FC was composed of the "older" Lateo players while
Lateo-Xavier was manned by the "younger" Xavier recruits.
The game however was still a fiercely contested one.
Lateo
FC opened the scoring through James Rafols' 30-yard shot. Seeing
the keeper out of his line and too far up from his goal, he blasted
the ball from that distance and was gifted with the opening goal
for a 1-0 lead in the middle of the first half.
No
real chances were created after that as it was obvious that the
killing heat of the sun was taking its toll on the players'
staminas. Then a direct free kick was awarded to Lateo FC. Dave
Fegidero, a former national team player, decided to take the free
kick and curled the ball with his left foot past the wall and tucked
it neatly in the upper right corner of the goal. Gooooal... for
a 2-nil lead.
The
team then exchanged attacks one after another and Lateo-Xavier was
finally given a break when they were awarded a penalty shot nearing
the end of the 1st half. JV Tanjangco cooly slotted the ball in
the lower left corner to narrow the lead by one goal.
Lateo-Xavier
intensified their attacks but the Lateo line of defense held its
ground until the final whistle to preserve their 2-1 win. |