SUBSTITUTE NICK VAN LONGGANAY CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING THE WINNING GOAL
CAGAYAN de Oro City —Nick Van Longganay played the game of his life when he went in as a substitute to a tired winger Joh Nul Salip in the 46th minute.
He then did not waste time and scored the winning goal in the 60th to escape past the strong Butuan Agusan del Norte Football Association (BANFA) in the first day of the Group G elimination tournament of the PFF National Boys U19 Championship 2022 at the Pelaez Sports stadium.
The 19-year old Golden City FC player booted in the winning goal in a follow up shot from deflected striker Lyle Dy’s attempt. “That was coach Ivan’s plan to bring me in the second half to score,’’ said the second year college student who is now looking for a football scholarship to get a college degree.
He added that he is supposed to be on his second college now after finishing one year at Phinma Cagayan de Oro College but might stop unless he gets football scholarship offers from local schools or schools from Cebu or Manila.
The scoreline was deceiving as the CMORFA boys were dominant from the start and miss countless of attempts. They could have scored more but BANFA defenders were strong and refused to give up goals.
“We wanted BANFA to have the ball and utilise our counters on their errors, however they managed to stop our positive transition and set pieces with their strong defenders,’’ CMORFA coach Ivan Caiña said after the match.
He added that he had to change both wingers early in the second half to bring in fresh legs. The substitution paid off as substitute Nickvan Longganay scored the winning goal.
Assistant coach of BANFA Bombet Rosales Aven said his players were surprised of the heat. “ Football is always like that, full of surprises. Congrats to the CMORFA lads or the job well done,” he said.
BANFA had only one real attempt and that was in the second half when Louie Napiza hit the post in his attempt from out side the box. “It was a waste,” said Rosales.
Lapiza is midfielder Adrian Detoya are still fresh from participating tryouts with Far Eastern University. They hope to make it to the team and get football scholarhips.
The other match between Agusan del Sur-Surigao del Sur RFA (AGSURRFA) and Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Island Regiona FA (SNADIRFA) ended in a scoreless draw. (jackbiantan@yahoo.com)
