Cibao FC beat Atlántico FC in the first semifinal game of the Dominican Soccer League to take a solid 3-0 lead in the series. For their part, the Pantoja team and Moca were unable to hurt each other and the first semifinal game ended in a draw and goalless.
Cibao beats Atlantico in First Semifinal Series
A depleted Cibao FC found some breathing room on the field by defeating Atlántico FC 3-0 in the first leg of the Dominican Soccer League semifinals. The game was played at El Condor stadium.
Despite playing in Jamaica on Thursday and traveling on Friday, the Orange team managed its players wisely.
The defending champions' first goal was scored by Charles Herold Jr. in the 25th minute, followed by Erick Japa in the 73rd minute and Carlos "Caballo" Ventura in the 84th minute.
The second leg will take place on Sunday at the Cibao FC stadium, which now has a three-goal advantage and is playing at home.
After several goal threats, the first goal was scored when Julio Cáceres controlled a long-range shot with his chest and put it into the path of Charles Herold Jr., who eluded two defenders and sent the ball into the back of the net to make it 0-1 in favor of Cibao FC.
The first half ended with no further changes on the scoreboard, with the visitors taking a 0-1 lead.
In the 57th minute, Cibao FC made three changes, Carlos "Caballo" Ventura entered the field in the 70th minute and 3 minutes later, Erick Japa scored the second goal. The match ended with a third goal in the 84th minute by Carlos Ventura, sealing the 0-3 victory.
For Posch, the team managed to position itself solidly on the field. However, Posch credited his team's game management and concentration as the two keys to holding their own in a high-demand game.
Both teams are now looking forward to facing each other this coming Sunday at the Cibao Stadium. Posch confirmed that another point in favor of his team has been the level of experience they have had in the international arena.
THE PRINCE HITS IT FROM ZURDA ! 🤴🏽👑☄️ pic.twitter.com/dxv7GUJJz5M
- Cibao Fútbol Club (@CibaoFC) October 2, 2023
Pantoja and Moca Finish Tied in First Semifinal Series
The first stage of the semifinal between Pantoja and Moca was highly competitive, with a goalless draw that leaves everything open for the second leg to determine the finalist.
The match began with interesting tactical and strategic actions by both teams.
The home team had to face the game with two significant absentees, Herard Franzety and Armando Vargas, in addition to the reduced physical condition of Luis Espinal, who played in the second half.
Despite a heavy downpour during the game, the Moca players were able to resist the pressure of their rival and keep possession of the ball.
In the first half, Pantoja had a better performance, but the visitors improved notably in the second half. At the end of the game, Mario Marte, Pantoja's goalkeeper, was the outstanding player, saving the clearest scoring chance of the game.
Both teams will face each other again next Sunday at the Moca 85 stadium to determine who advances to the final. Before that match, they will have international commitments in the 2023 Caribbean Cup during the week.
