Metro TMS wins Croctoberfest Night Football 1st Leg

Metro TMS captured the first leg title of the 2011 Davao Crocodile Park Croctoberfest Night Football League on Sunday beating archrival Solido FC 1-0 at the DCP Field.

Veteran Eric Salumbides connected on a swerving floater from the right wing midway into the first half that sailed beyond reach of Solido’s keeper Rad Cambronero whose last second dive was a heartbeat short.

That goal turned out to be the one that mattered for Metro TMS which will earn 50 points for winning the opening leg of this football trilogy organized by the Davao Crocodile Park and Bravetower Events Promotions. Solido will earn 35 points for the runner-up honors.

The two teams, known in the local football circle as bitter rivals in the second division, actually opened the tournament with an early confrontation in Group B. They battled to a 1-all draw which set up their long road to the finals.

“It was a tough game. It’s always hard playing against Solido,” said Metro TMS owner Eric Sedighpour.

His counterpart from Solido, Buboy Arrieta, said they could have scored the first goal but referee Melchor Anzures nullified a possible conversion early in the game.

It turned up a lot more heated from there as the match turned more physical. Solido’s three-pronged attack centered around their young recruits—Japoy Diamante, Javi Romero-Salas and Miko Arrieta—got all banged up by Metro’s harrowing defense. To their credit, Diamante and Romero-Salas, both mainstays of the country’s Little Azkals squad, had at least four decent attempts in the second half.

Black Knights finished 3^rd with a shootout win over Philippine Rabies-Med Juris, 6-5.

A total of 14 squads were entered in the tournament sanctioned by the Davao Football Association and supported by the Davao Football Community. The next leg will be on Friday night with the women’s division set to start along with the High School Boys Division. Interested teams may contact Christian Ea 09237280441.

The leg winners will receive a medium-sized crocodile head cup with the team emerging with the highest points winning the specially crafted full-sized crocodile head cup.