Cebu FC is oozing with momentum following its 1-0 win over Shan United of Myanmar in the Asian Football Confederation Cup last Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Cebu coach Joshua Schrimer heaved a sigh of relief after sealing the win as they are coming off bitter losses to Macarthur FC of Australia, 2-8, in the AFC Cup and Davao Aguilas, 0-1, in the Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Ken Murayama served as the hero as he scored the goal in the 29th minute to give Cebu its first AFC Cup win since being established in 2020.
With the win, Cebu moved up in Group F with a 1-0-2 win-loss-draw record while the Burmese club lost its first three games in the group.
“The objective was to win the game and we did that. We probably should have scored more goals but we’re relieved to hear the final whistle and we got three points on hand,” Schrimer said.
“It’s not easy when we lost in Australia and then followed with a poor performance against Davao. It’s time to show that we can play.”
But the battle is far from over.
The Gentle Giants will have to beat Davao in the second leg of the Copa on 4 November in a bid to advance to the final for the first time in club history.
The Copa final is set on 12 November with the winner between Cebu and Davao facing the survivor in the other semifinal battle featuring Stallion Laguna FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo.
Cebu will also travel to Myanmar on 9 November to face Shan United anew as well as Phnom Penh Crown on 30 November and Macarthur on 14 December and will have to rack up wins to advance to the knockout stages.
Schrimer hopes that their morale-boosting victory will serve as their springboard to better performances in their next matches.
