Stallion barges into UFL Cup finals vs Global

BANKING on its fluid play, Stallion came from behind to subdue a gritty Green Archers United side, 3-1, in extra time Tuesday night to forge a finals duel with Global in the United Football League Cup at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Skipper Ruben Doctora struck twice, including a 119th-minute effort that capped a superb display for Stallion which reached the UFL Cup final for the first time since joining the league two years ago.

Korean midfielder Lee Woon-hyung was at the right place at the right time, firing from six yards to put Stallion in front, 2-1, in the 115th minute.

Lee’s goal was the product of the superb work put in on the right flank by substitute OJ Clarino, who beat three defenders before setting up the Korean.

Undermanned Global stunned Loyola Meralco, 2-1, earlier to clinch the first finals berth.

Cameroonian striker Alex Obiang and Sudanese forward Izzo El-Habbib were on target for Global, which missed nine key players due to national team commitments. Among those absent were regular starters Misagh Bahadoran, Jeff Christiaens and Denis Wolf.

The championship match is set on Monday at 7 p.m. at the same Rizal football field after the third place game between Loyola Meralco and Green Archers United at 4.

After a scoreless first half where both teams bungled clear-cut chances, Green Archers took the initiative with Tating Pasilan scoring 10 minutes into the second half when his stinging shot from just outside the box slipped past the hands of Stallion keeper Wilson Munoz.

But Stallion recovered the ebb and flow in its game and started dominating possession for long periods.

The pressure finally paid off with Doctora grabbing the equalizer in the 70th minute after latching unto a mishit shot from Spanish strike partner Rufo Sanchez.

Both teams finished with 10 men in their lineup with Archers defender Lawrence Ikegwuruka sent off in the 64th minute after picking up his second yellow card for violent conduct. Woo Nam-yeol was also dismissed just before regulation ended for a second yellow.