UFL: Stallion tramples Airmen 7-2, PSG and Nomads draw

Match reports from UFL action Thursday from The Empy.

Stallion Sta. Lucia 7, Philippine Air Force 2.

The UFL Cup champs put the hurt on the Airmen with a ruthless performance that kept them on top of the league table.

Rufo Familiar Sanchez struck four times, Lee Joo Young twice and Ruben Doctora once in a comprehensive rout that left Air Force winless after four games.

Ian Araneta did score a penalty in the 34^th minute and doubled his output with a cheeky chip over Stallion keeper Wilson Munoz in the 72^nd after Stallions' Jason Cordova miscalculated a high ball.

But Stallion pressed the Air Force ball carriers all game long and they could not cope, forking the ball over time and time again, often times in the most dangerous of places.

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But more criminally, the Airmen were lax on defense, allowing Stallion plenty of opportunities to score. Had Stallion's finishing been more effective, a double digit win would have been possible.

Air Force reshuffled a defense that was missing Neckson Leonora to suspension. Rodolfo Bebanco replaced him at left back while Mark Anthony Fernandez gave way in the center of the defense for veteran Martin Doctora, who is Air Force's tallest player.

Doctora was joined in the center by converted midfielder Antonio Albor. Joebel Bermejo remained at right back.

None of it worked.

Rufo scored on a header ten minutes into the game then nine minutes later speared the ball past Ken Dolloso for 2-0.

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In the 27^th minute Lee blasted into the low right corner with a shot that Dolloso could have saved.

After Araneta's penalty Lee restored the three-goal cushion by exploiting some soft Air Force defense and powering into the right flank.

Eleven minutes after the half Sanchez got his hat trick off a cheap giveaway from Vince Braga. At the hour mark Balot Doctora made it 6-1 off an assist from Sanchez and two minutes later Bermejo was sent off for a second yellow on a professional foul on a goal-bound Rufo.

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Two minutes after that Stallion finished their scoring with a low header from Sanchez.

Araneta's goal off an uncharacteristic error from Cordova, probably caused by his unfamiliarity with the bounce of the Empy's artificial turf, was little consolation.

Cordova, captain of national champs Ceres, is on loan from the Bacolod club to the team he starred for until the UFL Cup of 2011.

Stallion sits on top of the table with Global. Both teams have the full fifteen points from five games.

Meanwhile Air Force has suffered through four losses in as many games and plays Global next Thursday.

The 7-2 scoreline is the first in Division 1 league play since last year's league when Green Archers United beat Army 7-2. Archers also manhandled Diliman FC 7-2 in last year's Cup.

Nomads Manila 0, Pasargad 0

The result was a draw, but one team is surely happier than the other.

Nomads played their third game in six days and picks up a point, the seventh of the run.

Last Saturday they defeated Pachanga Diliman 1-0 and on Monday dropped Philippine Army 3-1.

Without first string keeper Friso Klok (work commitments), second string keeper Jeff Blake (broken hand sustained in Army game off collision with a teammate), defender Baffio Magassa (work commitments), and teen wunderkind James Woldring (injury), the Merville-based squad held on for a goalless finish.

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Pasargad gets its first point of what is fast turning into a disappointing season.

Nomad Jason Arroyo had a spirited game but could not get on the scoreboard.

Just before the half Pasargad's Emmanuel Mbata could have scored but his effort clanged off the upright.

Pasargad turned the screws in the second half with new signing William Guerridon hitting the post with his header, and Reza Amirkhizan and Jahambahksh Taher coming close.

Nomads' Fidelis Nnabuife had a couple of chances but was unable to hit the target.

Phil Connolly, usually an outfield player but on Thursday playing goalie, preserved the draw in the 91^st minute with a sliding clearance to neutralize a chance by Consthandivine Harris.

“You could see in the second half, we had no legs” said Blake of his bone-weary team. The American watched the game in a sling.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.