RUFO Sanchez took his tally to 11 goals this season with a brace that fueled pacesetter Stallion Sta. Lucia past Pasargad, 5-1, Thursday night in the United Football League at Emperador Stadium in Taguig.
The Spanish forward stood at the forefront of the Stallion attack with superb strikes in the 35th and 82nd minutes, enabling the reigning UFL Cup champions to raise their total to 30 points.
Global later regained second spot with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Nomads.
Turkish winger Koray Gunduzoglu scored twice in his first start for the reigning champions, who also got a goal each from Izzo El Habbib and substitute Joshua Beloya.
Despite missing key players due to suspension and injuries, Global increased its tally to 28 points, vaulting past Loyola Meralco.
Lee Woon-yung, Kim Hyo-il and Nathan Alquiros also found the back of the net for a relentless Stallion side which exploited gaps on the PSG defense.
Emil Muncada scored a wonder goal from 30 yards out to trim the deficit, 1-2, four minutes before halftime, but it hardly mattered as Stallion quickly regained its lethal form in the second half.
Picked up during the transfer window, Gunduzoglu opened the scoring with a header in the 20th minute, before showing good composure in rounding Nomads keeper Friso Klok for his second goal at the stroke of halftime.
El-Habbib got on the scoresheet in the 57th minute with a fine individual effort, before Beloya completed the rout 11 minutes from time.
It was Nomads’ fifth straight defeat, although it still remained at seventh spot.