Crippled Cebu FC plays Ilocos to a draw in PFL

MANILA, Philippines — Darryl Roberts struck hard in the second half as undermanned Global Cebu FC salvaged a 3-3 draw with Ilocos United at the resumption of Philippines Football League play Wednesday night at Quirino Stadium in Ilocos.

Roberts fired the equalizer twice in the last 45 minutes to allow the Cebu booters to take a point despite the absence of skipper Misagh Bahadoran, first-choice keeper Patrick Deyto, and key players Paul Mulders, Dennis Villanueva, Pika Minegishi and Paolo Salenga due to Azkals duty.

The stalemate hiked Global’s tally to 44 points through 26 games, just three shy of third-running Kaya, which has 47 but played one more game, while bottom-dwelling Ilocos picked up its eighth point in 26 starts.

Global actually drew first blood in the first PFL match played after the international break with Rufo Sanchez finishing off a corner at the eighth-minute mark.

Ilocos drew level at the 32nd when Arthur Kouassi cashed in on a penalty awarded, sending debuting custodian John Lloyd Bastasa the wrong way, and took the driver’s seat three minutes before half-time courtesy of Charlie Beaton.