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Darwin Regala came at the right time for Stallion Laguna as they galloped past Global Cebu. Art Enriquez/Stallion Laguna
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By Kevin Estrada
BIÑAN -- Stallion Laguna were made to work by Global Cebu for the entire 90 minutes before taking all three points with a 2-1 triumph in the lone PFL tiff Sunday evening in their own stable.
Ernest Nierras' herd pestered the visitors with their counters and hard pressing, scoring on both halves to get their second consecutive win to widen their gap on fourth against JPV Marikina to five points on the league table.
It was almost one way traffic as the home side got the better quality in their chances despite Cebu got the initiative, which was demonstrated by their 19th minute attack by Yannick Tuason that sailed over Patrick Deyto's reach.
That did not deter them as four minutes later Darwin Regala shoved Laguna ahead with a wonderful right footed strike from Yannick Tuason's pass into Deyto's far post that was the lone difference at the half.
Right at the restart, the Stallions picked up the horsepower as they peppered Deyto's frame with tons of chances only to be thwarted by the Azkals netminder, in whom he denied Jhan-Jhan Melliza and Abou Sy earlier at the half-hour.
However, it was his backline that let him down in the 74th when Laguna skipper Ruben Doctora doubled their lead by pouncing on Lee Jeong-Min's missed clearance near the six yard box that was initiated by Farbod Mahmudi, who came on four minutes earlier.
Cebu pulled one back with three minutes remaining after Jinggoy Valmayor received Daniel Gadia's interception on Hayeson Pepito and slots the consolatory strike into the empty net.
Marjo Allado's men sought for the equalizer but eventually ran out of ideas to be condemned to its second straight setback.
Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada
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