UFL: Stallions jump back to the top with win over Archers

The Stallions jump back to the top of the UFL after dispatching Green Archers United, 4-3, at the Emperador Stadium on Thursday night. Stallions captain Joaquin Canas opened the scoring with a powerful header in the 10th minute, but Chieffy Caligdong canceled out the lead in injury time of the first half, hooking in substitute Sean Lee’s chipped through ball. After the break, Kim Hyo Il curled in a gem of a free-kick, the ball bouncing off the post and leaving Patrick Deyto rooted to the spot in the 55th minute. The Stallions then scored their third in the 77th minute as Nathaniel Alquiros pounced on Tating Pasilan’s poor clearance in defense. The Archers got back into the game as Reynald Villareal smashed in an effort from the edge of the area in the 83rd minute. But only a minute later, substitute Diego Barrera acrobatically made the game safe again for the Stallions, though the Archers got a consolation goal in the last kick of the match through substitute Agbayomi Olowoyeye. First half Smart passing from the Stallions posed a serious threat to the Archers’ defense as they quickly pounced on an error, intercepting a pass to feed Rufo Sanchez, who laid the ball off for Lee Joo Young to fire at goal. Green Archers keeper Patrick Deyto got down well to smother the ball in the ninth minute, but it was a warning shot of how quickly the Stallions can pounce on errors and how tough it would be for the Archers. A minute later, that threat came to life, as Joaquin Canas quickly and powerfully rose to meet a Lee corner, heading it into the back of the net. Five minutes later, Matthew Nierras went into the book for a very high challenge, before Hector Zaghi was shown a yellow for tugging back his man. In the 22nd minute, Rufo Sanchez got into double figures for the season, given way too much space at the back post but heading just wide. The Archers started to come into the game later on. In the 27th minute, Chieffy Caligdong deflected a shot towards goal, forcing Wilson Muñoz to pull off a good save, but he was well offside. Sean Lee then came on for Arnie Pasinabo in an early change for the Archers.   In the 40th minute, Chieffy Caligdong had a notable half-chance with the substitute Sean Lee helping the former Airman find space. But as he took aim, he slipped, dragging his shot across goal tamely. Muñoz tipped it wide of goal before Jessie Martindale fired from 30-yards out, stinging the palms of Deyto in goal. Stallions made a substitution as Hector Zaghi was replaced by Denstin Muraoka, but before the substitution was fully announced, the Archers equalized through Chieffy Caligdong. Sean Lee played a great, chipped through ball for the Archers’ star, who had to adjust his body to hook the ball beyond Muñoz to level the scores.   So despite dominating much of the game, the Stallions were forced to go into the break level at 1-1. Second half Creating chances at the start of the second half, the Archers didn’t look like the type of team that's eighth in the league and struggling for form. A through ball saw Chieffy Caligdong offside, but the Archers’ marquee signing checked his run, allowing Tommy Escoltero to get onto the ball. Thinking the whistle was about to blow, he tamely hit the shot into Wilson Munoz’s arms. The offside call wasn't made and the Stallions were let off. The Archers were then punished for the missed chance in the 55th minute, as Kim Hyo Il curled a free-kick off the post and into the net from 25-yards out. Leaving Deyto no chance, the Archers’ keeper was a spectator as the Stallions retook the lead. Kim almost repeated the trick later in the game, but struck a free-kick from 20-yards out, too close to Deyto who caught the ball comfortably in the end. After Lee Joo Young found space on the right wing, drilling the ball across goal and winning a corner from a deflection, Chieffy Caligdong came off for Agbayomi Olowoyeye. The Stallions made it 3-1 in the 77th minute as Diego Barrera knocked the ball across goal and Tating Pasilan’s poor clearance fell only a couple of yards away from him and into the path of Nathaniel Alquiros, who snatched up the opportunity to lash in the Stallions’ third. Mark Rivera then replaced Matthew Nierras, but like the Stallions’ goal before it, the Archers scored immediately after the substitution as Reynald Villareal powered in a rocket from the edge of the area in the 83rd minute. From kick-off, Diego Barrera made the game safe for the Stallions once more, controlling a half-clearance and unleashing a scissor kick to smash the ball into the bottom corner. Yuuri Ishizuka replaced Lee Joo Young in the 89th before the Archers got a final consolation goal in the last kick of the game through Agbayomi Olowoyeye. What’s next for the teams The Stallions go two points clear at the top of the table following an impressive season so far. With nine wins in ten games, they will be looking to continue that impressive record against PSG next Thursday, April 25, and remain on top. With a loss here, meanwhile, the Archers remain four points off seventh placed Nomads as they look to secure a spot away from the relegation zone. The Archers will have another stern test on April 23 against a resurgent Kaya, still unbeaten under new coach David Perkovic. - RAF, GMA News