Pinoys sustain form, rip Macau

BAKU, Azerbaijan — The Philippine U15 Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT U15) notched their third straight win in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, beating Macau, 2-0, to start the classification stage Tier D round of 32 at the Hovsan Competition Complex.

The young Filipinos dominated offensively, dominating possession and mounting numerous attacks to the Macau goal.

Ultimately, two goals to end each half were scored by Dan Emmanuel Becera and Nathan Caligdong.

Becera of the Cavite Regional Football Association had a feathery touch on his receive of Negros Occidental defender Frank Jonal Oliverio’s long ball on scored on the second touch in front of the goal in the 20th minute.

Before that, the Macau goalkeeper saved five shots on goal by Sylar Alcantara, Quito Pascual, Oliverio, John Carlo Rendon and Micah Alva.

The Philippines had the chance to double the lead in the 28th minute after Alva got fouled inside the penalty box, but his subsequent pen hit the right goalpost.

Thereafter, Becera and Alcantara had two shots on goal each, all saved by the Macau keeper.

The final nail in Macau’s coffin came from Caligdong, who poached near the goal, gathering Rendon’s miss from deep off the gloves of the Macau keeper to end the game on a scoring note at the whistle.

The Iloilo-Guimaras RFA protege has scored his third goal in the World Cup, leading the Philippines in scoring.