Stallion rips Laos, seizes UFL top seed
STALLION leaned on a blistering start to crush Laos, 4-1, Saturday night and claim the top seeding in Group A of the United Football League Cup at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
On a night when Loyola Meralco Sparks striker Alvaro Castiela produced a performance to remember, 2013 League and Cup winner Stallion got the job done early thanks to an explosion led by skipper Balot Doctora.
Doctora struck twice in the first 24 minutes, sandwiching goals by Jordan Mintah and Sam Bonney, as Stallion completed a sweep of Group A and set up a quarterfinal match with Green Archers United, which finished fourth in Group B, on April 2.
The Sparks clinched the No. 3 spot in Group B after an 11-0 whipping of Manila Nomads.
Castiela, a former member of Spanish side Osasuna, fired a tournament-high six goals as the Sparks raised their tally to nine points and edged Archers for third on goal difference.
The result meant Loyola will face Group A second seed Kaya in the quarterfinals, also on April 2. Group B top seed Ceres-La Salle will face Forza on April 3, the same day Global disputes a semifinal spot against JP Voltes.
