Hosts Stallion Laguna FC built a 2-1 lead at the half, but goals from Ivan Mamut and Sony Norde gave Malaysian runners-up Terengganu FC all three points in their AFC Cup Group G encounter at the Biñan Football Stadium.
Junior Sam struck first for the home side, diverting a low cross from Juan Trujillo after three minutes. The Cameroonian forward, on loan from Mendiola FC 1991, took his AFC Cup tally to three goals.
Griffin McDaniel doubled the advantage for Stallion in the 14th minute. Receiving the ball from Argentine winger Cristian Ivanobski, McDaniel took on fullback Safwan Mazlan before firing from outside the penalty area and into the back of the net.
Even when faced with the deficit, Terengganu had more of the ball and created high-quality chances. The likes of Nik Sharif Haseefy and Sony Norde were denied only by the woodwork. Stallion keeper Nelson Gasic, replacing Hayeson Pepito in the starting lineup, had to make crucial saves to keep the scoreline.
Stallion’s lead was halved in the 33rd minute after captain Matthew Nierras deflected a Terengganu free kick into his own net.
Coming into the second half, the visitors continued to pile the pressure on Stallion, with Haitian winger Sony Norde and Croatian forward Ivan Mamut posing the most threat.
Terengganu found their equalizer in the 67th minute. Norde went on a defence-splitting run with the ball, even going one-on-one with Gasic, before laying off to Mamut who only had to slip the ball into the net from point-blank range.
Stallion had their best chance to regain the lead in the 78th minute. Substitute Yuta Nomura’s shot was smothered by keeper Suhaimi Husin, while Junior Sam’s overhead kick from inside the penalty area came off the crossbar.
Eventually, the winner came for Terengganu through Sony Norde after 86 minutes, going on a solo run down the left-hand side, beating defender Jayvee Kallukaran and finishing from a tight angle.
This was the second meeting between the two sides, with the match in Malaysia ending in a 2-2 draw after Stallion had also led 2-0.
The result left Stallion Laguna at the bottom of Group G with a single point after four matches played, while Terengganu temporarily moved atop the group with 8 points, pending the result of the match between Central Coast Mariners and Bali United later in the day.
Stallion’s next AFC Cup assignment will be an away game against Bali United on November 29th.
Future chemical engineer and longtime football fan, Dann’s passion for the beautiful game has grown from the Miracle in Hanoi days, and he has been a Manchester United fan since. With a keen interest in the analytics side of the sport, he runs his own blog CounterPressPH, and has been covering the local game with Eat Sleep Breathe Football.
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