Six-speed Stallion saunters past Servicemen

Stallion Laguna marked the first month of the 2024 PFL season off in style Sunday night at the fabled old Rizal Memorial Stadium after speeding past a game Philippine Army 6-0.

The match started off testy as Army adopted their renowned compact defensive shape while Stallion tried to tease and prod at it, trying to find a seam to attack in – which certainly wouldn’t have been the start to expect from a Stallion side that just came off a 13-goal hammering of Manila Montet last week. However, in the 23rd minute, the Servicemen’s doors opened just a crack, and the Stallions zoomed right through – an intricate passing move down the left flank opened enough space for Finn McDaniel to hit a rocket from the edge of the box, opening up the scoring.

The lead doubled two minutes later as bodies in the middle saw Stallion win the ball back from a goal kick and Jose Dourado broke past the men in black from a well-placed Abe Placito pass to slot it bottom-drawer. Finn made it 3-0 in the 39th minute with an absolute bottle-rocket from the edge of the box. The second half saw Army able to re-establish some of the compactness they had lost during the Stallion flurry, marred further by Placito coming off in the 51st minute from a hamstring knock until Finn broke the Internet (local Philippine football Internet, at least) with a 50-yard top-corner volley that sailed across the night sky like a comet to seal a hat-trick for him and take the lead in the Golden Boot race.

Ken Pryde made it 5 for the pink and black 5 minutes later after guiding in a Paolo Pavone header from a corner, and Junior Sam continued his scoring heater off the bench 3 minutes from time with a now-trademark run of his off a good through ball from Jesus Salazar.

Stallion now looks forward to a titanic clash with OneTaguig on Sunday night, while Army looks to pick themselves back up against Davao Aguilas on Saturday afternoon.