Photo from PFL |
by Drew Malihan
MANILA - Stallion Laguna keeps their 2024 Philippines Football League title hopes alive as they grab a 3-0 win over Maharlika Manila Saturday inside the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Both teams missed a key player as Stallion fielded a starting XI without all-rounder Abraham Placito in their lineup due to a match suspension, while Maharlika will miss the service of keeper Mamadou Sene and midfielder Soufiane Bouazzaoui.
Stallion was the more aggressive of the two in the first half, getting two-thirds of the ball possession and getting more shots, but failing to make one for the team, while Maharlika struggled to keep the ball, even giving out four fouls in the first 45 minutes.
It was only in the 48th minute when Stallion scored off a set piece, as Gabe Silva converted a Juan Trujillo corner that went past Jay Mendez's guard to give Laguna the lead.
Silva converted another set piece from Trujillo in the 57th minute, as he headed a corner kick ball into the Maharlika net to give Stallion more breathing room and a 2-0 cushion.
Ezequiel Cirigliano sent the ball to the other side and found Theo, who attracted the Maharlika defense, giving Jacob Pena enough space to run and convert the Brazilian's pass to Stallion's third goal in the 63rd.
From there, Stallion did not give any close chances to Maharlika as keeper Alfredo Cortez grabbed his sixth clean sheet of the season, and Stallion the full three points.
Stallion will try to push themselves closer to the title race as they will face league leaders and defending champs Kaya FC-Iloilo next week, while Maharlika Taguig will meet Davao Aguilas-UMak next Sunday.
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