Stallion squeaks past Phil. Army, ties Global on top
MANILA, Philippines – Stallion-Sta. Lucia survived a late scare from Phil. Army to score a 2-1 victory and grab a share of the lead in the United Football League Thursday night at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill, Taguig.
The defending UFL Cup champion leaned on two first half goals to squeeze out its third straight win to tie reigning league champion Global FC on top of the table with nine points.
Stallion-Sta. Lucia had an emphatic first half opening it with a goal from one of its Korean reinforcements Lee Joo Young in the sixth minute. Spanish import Joaco Cañas extended Stallion-Sta. Lucia’s lead with a header eight minutes before halftime.
Just as Stallion-Sta. Lucia was about to take control of the match, Phil. Army came alive. The Army men sliced the deficit to one just four minutes into the second half when Luisito Brillantes drilled in his team’s lone goal.
The Phil. Army’s second half uprising, however, was cut short when veteran Roel Gener was sent off with his second yellow card in the 55th minute. Despite playing one man down, Phil. Army gave itself a chance to force a draw and get a point with Azkals’ keeper Ed Sacapaño’s stellar play.
The equalizer, however, came begging for the Army men, who fell to their second straight loss.
Phil. Army wasted two golden chances to equalize and none bigger than Ric Becite’s curling free kick that hit the crossbar in the 73rd minute. Another opportunity knocked on Phil. Army late in the injury time but the attempt just sailed wide.
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