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UFL: Stallions trample Green Archers in UFL Cup semis rematch


In their opening fixture for the United Football League, the Green Archers and Stallions put on a repeat of their UFL Cup semifinal, which saw Stallions progress to the final after extra-time. In the league format, Stallions would have to beat the Green Archers in normal time to claim all three points and they managed just that, and by the same scoreline too, 3-1, by taking advantage of some very poor marking from the Archers, Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Rufo Sanchez and Prince Mark Boley put the Stallions into a 2-0 first half lead before Simpron pulled a goal back for the Archers. As the Archers gained a foothold on the game, Park Bo Bae squeezed in a Stallion third to finish things off and give the title contenders their first three points of the year. First half New Stallion signee Prince Mark Boley was the brightest spark in the opening minutes, forcing a corner and generally pressing the play. After shooting over in the 13th minute, Stallions came close four minutes later as Martin Villaflor kept out Lee Won Hyung. A free-kick in the next minute found Rufo Sanchez in acres of space, but his first touch let him down as the ball bounced off his knee from the deflected free-kick. Stallions were clearly having the better of the opening period and the Green Archers’ lax marking was ultimately their downfall in the 30th minute as a chipped cross found Rufo Sanchez with the time to chest the ball down and drive the ball past Villaflor without a challenge from the defense. The Archers made a substitution shortly afterwards in the 33rd minute, bringing in Reynald Villareal for Arvin Soliman in a very early switch. Boley doubled the lead for Stallions though, as a cross from Lee was flicked on and the former Kaya man tapped the ball home with neither of the Stallions’ men in the box marked in the 39th minute. The poor organization of the Green Archers’ defense was allowing the Stallions free reign on their goal and the Archers couldn’t offer anything in attack, with neither Ayi Nii Aryee nor Chieffy Caligdong starting, the latter of whom was still with the Azkals squad at kickoff. Second half At the break, Bervic Italia replaced Jessy Martindale for the Stallions, but they began complacently with the Archers driven on by whatever their coach said at halftime. Jovanie Simpron pulled a goal back when Arnie Pasinabo ran onto a fantastic through ball and cut the ball back for Simpron in space. The former Stallion forward, in a lot of space and just ten yards out, drove the ball past his former club in the 48th minute to get his new side back into the game. The Archers began to gain a foothold, and another good pass down the left wing found some space, but their eventual shot was hit well wide in the 56th minute. That said, the Archers were passing the ball well, something they hadn’t done in the first half, and began to pressure the Stallion defense. Then in the 61st minute there was some controversy as the referee decided Wilson Munoz had taken the ball out of the box while handling it and gave an indirect free-kick. Pasilan touched it for Simpron, who won a corner as it deflected off the wall, and from the corner Tating Pasilan drove the ball into the side netting. The Archers continued to look the more likely team to grab the fourth goal of the game, but the Stallions restored their two goal lead in the 65th minute in fortuitous fashion. Rufo Sanchez received the ball in the area and held off two Archers defenders before poking the ball to Park Bo Bae, who turned his man. His shot was deflected past Villaflor with another Stallion player free to the side to emphasize the bad marking. The Archers then went up the other end and almost responded when Tating Pasilan controlled the ball, turned and shot at goal, but Munoz was up to the save and kept the Stallions in control. Lee Joo Young then received a yellow card for simulation as he went down easily, but did have an arm on his shoulder as he dribbled into the box in the 71st minute. Prince Boley set up a chance in the 75th minute, keeping the ball in on the right wing and crossing into the box, but the volley didn’t match up and the Archers escaped again, despite leaving more players unmarked. Then in the 78th minute a long ball found Sanchez in space again, roaming between two defenders to chest the ball down and strike left footed. Fortunately for the Archers, he struck just wide from the golden opportunity to seal the win. Ayi Nii Aryee then came onto the pitch for Shag Shapay Johnson before Prince Boley made way for Daniel Matsunaga, to probably the biggest and highest pitch scream of the night, as the Brapanese model made his Stallion debut. Tommy Escoltero then came on for Jake Hugo in the 85th minute but it was too little. too late for the Archers as the Stallions wound down the clock, taking off Joo Young Lee for Hextor Zaghi as they romped to their first victory of the season. - AMD, GMA News  

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