Maharlika Taguig had to dig deep into their reserves and left it late to take down the Philippine Army by a lone goal in the second of Saturday’s tripleheaders at the Rizal Memorial.
Amidst the backdrop of rain that drenched most of the nation’s capital, Lerche Njang’s side was in a deadlock with the Troopers from Fort Bonifacio for the entire match. However, their substitutes teamed up to secure three points and, more importantly, maintain their place in the top flight.
The Army fired the first warning shot within two minutes when Roynick Bernardo beat Mamadou Sene with his left foot, only for the right side of the goalpost to save the blushes of the Senegalese custodian. Jimuel Ariola then had another attempt thirteen minutes later but could only muster a weak effort straight at Sene after a turn inside the box.
Maharlika responded in the 25th minute to try and open the proceedings, only to be let down by Lucas Del Rosario, who could only manage a weak shot straight at John Kent Delariarte. Three minutes later, Delariarte also stopped Junior Mailly on the counter.
At the restart, both sides shored up their defenses, thwarting their respective opposing attacks to their frustration, knowing that anything less than maximum points would not help them at all.
However, the Army’s wasteful efforts in front of goal came back to haunt them in the second minute of injury time, when Maharlika hit the winner thanks to the left foot of substitute Lawrence Baguio. Baguio whipped in a free kick aimed at Jade Valle, but it instead took a bounce past Delariarte and into the back of the net.
PHILIPPINE ARMY: Delariarte (GK), Soriano, Becite, Dorimon, Bernardo, Monterona (Akiapat 90+1’), Ariola, Celiz, Bedia (Gatinao 31’), Cortes © (Villaseñor 58’), Decena (Sanquillos 90+1’)
MAHARLIKA TAGUIG: Sene (GK), Soufiane (Belonio 78’), Abo (Baguio 61’), Del Rosario, Jamon, Otuyemi, Basa ©, Mailly (Valle 85’), Uy, Gold, Basana
