By Kevin Estrada
MANILA-- Stallion needed a quickfire spark midway into the second half to stave off Pasargad and returned to winning ways to cap off Sunday's doubleheader at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Carlo Polli and Simone Rota struck in a span of three minutes to give Ernest Nierras their fourth win of the season to barge back into the top six, dispatching Green Archers United in the process on goal difference as they are tied at 13 points on the table.
Pasargad fell to their fifth straight setback to remain at the bottom of the table with just a point after eight matches, but they will take some positives from this after Joel Villarino debuted for them as their new manager, especially the stellar goalkeeping from Albert Llevares and the backline that improved after leaking in 28 goals in the last four matches.
Stallion dominated the entire match with almost seventy percent on the possession and outshot their victims by 26, but their wasted chances and indisciplined running almost let the team down as six offside calls were made against them, coupled by the solid Pasargad defence which held them scoreless in the first half as well as the early parts of the second.
However in the 68th minute, the Swiss midfielder finally broke the ice with a long ranged grounder that finally went past Llevares and into the bottom right corner.
Three minutes later, Rota then settled matters as he latched on Polli's cross and thumped a bouncing volley into the left corner.
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