MANILA, Philippines – Stallion FC leaned on a pair of first half goals by Bo Bae Park and Ruben Doctora, Jr. and a rock-solid goalkeeping by Pedro Marenco as it turned back group stage conqueror Cebu Queen City United, 2-0, to barge into the quarterfinals of the United Football Cup at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City Thursday night.
Bo struck early as he unloaded a low shot barely inside the box that connected on the 15th minute before Doctora struck 12 minutes later off a nifty through ball from Diego Barrera, enough to weather a desperate but failed fightback by the Cebu booters in the second half.
Marenco also came out a hero after seven saves including four in the second half when Cebu tried to mount a comeback.
The victory not only avenged Stallion's painful and embarrassing 1-4 defeat at the hands of Cebu in the group stages but also sent it to the next round where it will tackle the winner of the match pitting Global FC and Phl Navy.
Ceres-La Salle-Bacolod, the reigning PFF Smart National Club champion, likewise booked a seat to the quarters after outgunning Agila FC, 7-2.
Twice trailing by a goal early in the match, the Ceres booters fought back and went into halftime with a 2-2 deadlock.
And then a five-goal binge in the second half completely zapped the fight out of Agila while catapulting Ceres straight to the quarters.
Agila's Olayemi Bakare sandwiched Ceres' Younnousse Yaogo's 16th-minute rocket by scoring on the 11th and 18th that gave the latter the early edge and what appeared like momentum.
Jayson Panhas came through with a goal just before halftime to knot the count at two goals apiece before Ceres went on a goal-hitting barrage in the second half thanks to goals by Jin Ho Kim (49'), Panhay (58'), Byeong Jun Yoon (66'), Joshua Beloya (74') and Hwa Seo Park (93').
Ceres hopes to continue its Cinderella run as it shoots for another triumph against Union International Manila in the quarters.