By Drew Malihan
MANILA—Stallion Laguna claimed their first victory in six PFL matches as they scored three goals against a hapless Mendiola FC 1991 squad at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona on Sunday.
Kraig Bonanken, Troy Limbo, and Finn McDaniel delivered the goods for the Biñan-based club whose last win was against Maharlika Manila six months ago and ended a five-game winless skid.
American midfielder Rafael Nogueda takes the ball from the right past to the Mendiola defense and gave a pass enough for Bonanken to send Michael Asong down and put the ball to the net in the 35th minute.
The American midfielder involves himself again in the 40th minute, this time saving a scrappy ball from McDaniel inside the penalty box.
Asong tried to save it but it bounced to an open Limbo who quickly put it to the net to give the Stallions a quick 2-0 lead to end the first half of the game.
Mendiola's defense held on for the rest of the second half but crumbled in the dying minutes of regulation when veteran skipper Balot Doctora beats the offside flag to find Juan Galeana who taps the ball to an open McDaniel to put the finishing touches in the 89th minute.
The Carmona win improved Stallion's record to 19 points with six wins, one draw, and seven defeats, only two points behind current fourth-placer Azkals Development Team, while Mendiola saw their 15th defeat in their 17 matches so far in the current season, and their fifth loss in a row.
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