MANILA – Ceres Negros kept its untarnished slate in the 2018 Philippines Football League with a 4-1 victory over JPV Marikina at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Patrick Reichelt led Ceres by firing two goals on Saturday while Bienvenido Marañon and Jeffrey Christiaens had a conversion each for the defending champion to stay on top of the standings on 12 points (four wins and no loss).
“We know that JPV and Ceres have good games in the past years and the margin is not too big,” said Ceres Negros assistant coach Ian Treyes. “So we really prepared well for this match.”
Ceres had multiple opportunities for the goal early in the match until it finally scored one in the eighth minute on a Marañon strike from a pass by Jose Elmer Porteria.
It managed to raise the advantage 10 minutes later as Christiaens worked his way to the box to fire one from a pass by Mike Ott. JPV was able to pull one back with Suzuki Tsubasa converting a corner kick with his header.
JPV had a chance to equalize in the second half but its attempts were well defended by Ceres’ goalkeeper Toni Doblas. Ceres also had a chance to widen the lead but can connect as well.
Ceres was able to pull away for good late in the match with two goals from Reichelt – a breakaway goal from a pass by Arnie Pasinabo in the 78th minute and another close-range hit five minutes later from a pass by Ott.
JPV slid to fourth place with 6 points (two wins and four defeats)./PN
