UFL: Alquiros shines as Stallion tramples Air Force, Pasargad rolls over Nomads
Stallion Sta. Lucia 6, Philippine Air Force 0
After an unimpressive first half the league-leaders let it all hang loose with five goals in the second half to solidify their position at the top of the table.
Air Force stumbled in their drive to avoid the final relegation spot with another subpar performance from a defense that was missing Neckson Leonora.
The Airmen were unable to gain a foothold in the midfield as Stallion hoarded possession.
The UFL Cup champs didn't seem to miss their talisman, Rufo Sanchez, who was suspended on account of accumulated yellows.
Stallion substitute Nathan Alquiros picked up the Man of the Match plum with a pair of goals, matching the output of Matthias Bonhevi.
Things started very poorly for Air Force when Lee Won Hyung's free kick from 40 yards out bounced in front of Air Force keeper Ken Dolloso, over his head, and into the net. 1-0 after three minutes.
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The egregious bit of keeping can be somewhat explained by the foot of Jeremy Hohn that was extended on the play.
Dolloso rebounded with subsequent saves soon after on Bonhevi and Nonoy Felongco.
The score stayed that way at the half with Stallion getting the lion's share of the chances.
Stallion brought on Alquiros and Hector Zaghi in the intermission, which proved to be very productive moves.
Three minutes after the restart Bonhevi tapped in a cross from Lee Joo Young to double the Stallion lead.
Four minutes later Alquiros got on the scoresheet with a gutsy, hard-won goal.
The DLSU Green Archer first pried the ball from Ansing Gustilo outside the box. As he dribbled the ball goalward, Gustilo fouled him from behind, but the youngster stayed on his feet.
Joel Bermejo raced in to offer some help defense, and he too seemed to clip Alquiros from behind. Once again Alquiros was unfazed and blasted a left-footer past Dolloso for 3-0.
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It was the fifth time in six games that the winger had found the back of the net for Stallion. That kind of scoring should impress the SEA Games U23 team selectors enough to give him a slot for Myanmar later in the year.
Four minutes later Stallion was up 4-0 after Ken Dolloso ventured way out of his penalty box to challenge Hector Zaghi. The Brazilian outmaneuvered the keeper and slotted home.
Twenty minutes from time it was 5-0 when Bonhevi centered just in front of the goal. Unluckily for Dolloso the ball deflected off the keeper's leg, off the crossbar, and to the feet of an unmarked Alquiros, who eased it in for his brace.
Four minutes from time Bonhevi got a well-deserved second when he outran Rodolfo Bebanco on the flank and beat Dolloso.
Stallion is now five points clear of Global with 39 points while Air Force remains stuck at six points, two clear of bottom-club Army.
Pasargad 7, Nomads 2.
A shorthanded Nomads club slumped to yet another defeat at the hands of a lively Pasargad team.
Nomads were without keeper Friso Klok and striker Fidelis Nnabuife, and they suffered.
Pasargad's Michael Nelson got things started with a goal in the fifth minute off a long-range boot that wriggled past the right side of Nomads reserve keeper Jay Avellana.
Three minutes before the half PSG went 2-0 up when Belinga Blanchard slipped in a through ball that Emmanuel Mbata hoofed past Avellana's left.
Two minutes later the Nigerian turned provider when he supplied Hamid Hajimedhi, who powered past Avellana into the roof of the net for 3-0. As in the previous goal, Nomads complained about an offside non-call.
But at the hour mark Nomads saw a glimmer of hope when Luis Infante showed great technique in volleying for 3-1. The ball seemed to deflect off the back of Jahambahksh Taher.
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Pasargad's response was swift. Just a minute later Blanchard won the ball in the midfield and after a quick dribble beat the keeper again to restore the three-goal cushion.
In the 67th PSG made it 5-1 when Jalsor Soriano, a full thirty yards away from the goal on the right flank, spotted Avellana off his line. The Negros Occidental native brilliantly lofted the ball over the keeper for another score.
Ten minutes later Mbata got his second for 6-1.
Avelllana did, however, make a terrific diving save on a late free kick from Hamid Hajimedhi.
Six minutes before time Nomads' Michael Cardoso won a consolation for his side when he curved in an outside-of-the-boot floater that shockingly went through Ricardo Padilla's legs for a score.
Substitute Kalilou Toure's 93rd minute goal finished the scoring.
PSG leapfrogged their opponents into solo sixth on the table with fourteen points. They also cement their position safe from the relegation zone while Nomads' desultory second round continues. The Merville-based eleven has only one point in the second round-robin.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
