Miggy Mendoza deals Cebu huge heartbreaker as 10-man Stallion Laguna escapes with draw at home

Miggy Mendoza equalizes for Stallion Laguna on this volley. RM Chua/PFL

By Ivan Saldajeno

BIÑAN—Miggy Mendoza sent the Biñan Football Stadium into a frenzy on Sunday night as he shot the equalizer that forced a 1-1 draw between Stallion Laguna and Dynamic Herb Cebu in a crucial PFL showdown.

Mendoza broke the hearts of Cebu as he fired a 70th-minute goal off a corner which canceled Papu Corsame's opener in the 35th minute.

Both goals were things of beauty.

Corsame silenced the pro-Stallion Laguna crowd as he struck a curler goal from a tough angle at the left side of the box, staggering the returning Patrick Deyto.

Mendoza, however, answered with a volley from close range off a loose-ball scramble following a corner kick.

However, Deyto's much anticipated PFL comeback ended abruptly in the 73rd minute when the referee showed him a direct red card.

According to eyewitnesses, Deyto hurled some choice words at the officiating crew that did not sit well with them.

Despite Stallion Laguna going down to 10 men, Cebu could not capitalize offensively, and the host club continued its inspired attack the rest of the way. However, it did not end with another goal.

Stallion Laguna failed to tie the Azkals Development Team in third place and remained in fourth with 16 points.

However, Stallion Laguna played possibly as a major spoiler to Cebu's last ditch for the PFL title as the draw meant Kaya Iloilo, which beat Mendiola, 4-0, moments before the Stallion Laguna-Cebu conclusion, widened its lead for the championship to eight points.

Over at the City of Imus Grandstand, just when Mendiola thought it could keep Kaya Iloilo scoreless for the entire first half, Daizo Horikoshi struck on a 41st-minute goal off a counterattack to put the Visayan club ahead.

Jhan-Jhan Melliza sparked Kaya Iloilo's second-half breakaway with a 63rd-minute strike from long range to make it 2-0.

He then set up Nano Amita's 64th-minute goal off another counterattack for the 3-0 count.

Dylan Nobiraki then introduced himself to the PFL with the exclamation point in the 77th minute.

Kaya Iloilo is now on 35 points after 14 matches, while Cebu slightly moved up to 27 after 12 outings.

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