Stallion-Sta. Lucia reclaims top spot in UFL

By Karlo Sacamos


STALLION-Sta. Lucia turned to its other reliables in hacking out a 4-3 victory over Green Archers United Thursday night to regain the lead in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.
Joaco Cañas, Kim Hyo, Nathan Alquiros, and Diego Barrera emerged the goal scorers for the team that usually relies on two of the league's top scorers in Rufo Sanchez and Lee Joo Young as the Stallions increased their point total to 27, two ahead of Global.
Cañas, the Spanish center-back, scored a header 10 minutes into the game to open the scoring for the defending UFL Cup champions, who were without coach Ernie Nierras, who attended a wedding in Boracay.
Chieffy Caligdong scored for the second straight game, sneaking in a volley right before halftime to knot the count and set the stage for a see-saw affair.
Kim converted a free kick that was rewarded after the Archers' Shapay tripped Young, before Alquiros scored off the rebound as the Stallions appeared ready to pull away in the second half.
But the Archers saw a glimmer of hope after Dodong Villareal scored on a long-range effort off a corner from Jovanie Simpron.
Caught napping on defense, however, the Archers surrendered a quick goal courtesy of Barrera right in the Stallions' next offensive possession.
With a two-goal lead, the Stallions were able to afford a late goal from Agbayomi Olowoyeye of the Archers, a move which didn't sit well with Stallion goalkeeper Wilson Muñoz.
“Nag-relax kami sa last twenty minutes. Buti na lang naka-goal pa kami kundi talo pa,” the Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo-born Muñoz lamented.
The Archers remained in eighth place with seven points.

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