Cebu FC has a chance to end the year on a high note when it faces Macarthur FC today in the final match day of Asian Football Confederation Cup group stages at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Kickoff is at 8 p.m. with the Gentle Giants hoping to notch a victory over the A-League leader after a heartbreaking exit in the Copa Paulino Alcantara semifinals last 3 November.
Cebu is already eliminated with a 1-1-3 win-draw-loss record in Group F while Macarthur is tied with Phnom Penh Crown FC with identical 4-0-1 records.
The top team in the group will be going to the zonal semifinal along with the best second-place team in the ASEAN Zone.
Macarthur hammered Cebu, 8-2, in their first encounter of the season last 5 October at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium in New Wales, Australia.
But all eyes will be on Cebu, which looks to play the spoiler role in Macarthur’s chances in the knockout stages.
Cebu coach Joshua Schirmer said the team remains focused on winning despite already being out of contention for the knockout stages.
“They’re a top team in Australia but the objective remains the same. We still want to win any game we are a part of,” Schirmer said.
“It’s funny that sometimes players play better when there is less pressure. We’re not able to move on (to the knockout stages) which is unfortunate but we want to finish with maximum points possible.”
The likes of Ken Murayama, Rintaro Hama and Papuh Corsame are expected to lead the lines for Cebu as the squad aims one more win in its debut season in the AFC Cup.
