Pachanga halts Stallion's 11-game streak

MANILA, Philippines – Pachanga showed great resolve in downing Stallion Giligan's, 3-1, on Thursday night at the Emperador Stadium, ending last year's champions' impressive 11-game unbeaten streak in the United Football League Cup.

The result snaps the UFL Cup finalists' unfortunate streak of three straight losses, restoring pride to a reeling club as the League campaign comes to a close. Earlier in the day, Green Archers United Globe made light work of Philippine Army-GTI 3-0, keeping hopes of finishing fourth alive.

Jinggoy Valmayor opened the scoring halfway through the first period, smashing in a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in. Stallion leveled five minutes later, with Fitch Arboleda clinically slotting in after being played through by Junior Gaye.

Pachanga ended the half in front, though, with Raffy Cabug heading into an open goal after Stallion keeper Wilson Munoz had completely missed an attempt to punch out a free-kick into the box.

Nate Burkey settled the tie with a rocket from the edge of the penalty area just before the final whistle, ending a contest that saw OJ Clarino and Davide Cortina sent off for two bookable offenses each.

"We're happy because like I told the team, although a champion has been declared already, we're playing for the pride of Pachanga, and for each individual to protect our results against Stallion in the last two rounds," said Pachanga head coach Noel Marcaida, pointing at his club's undefeated record against Stallion of one win and one draw.

"It was a huge motivation to hold the better record against last year's champions. In this game our patience and composure at the back was really tested," he added.

Stallion head coach Ernie Nierras, for his part, rued Munoz's goalkeeping error.

"For some reason, every time we play Pachanga it's a goalkeeping error that kills us. That last one [from Burkey] came from us attacking too much trying to chase the game already. We didn't have it tonight, they played better than us. Even during the warm-ups, I was worried we were too lax," he said.

In the earlier match, Green Archers secured a fourth win in a run of five games unbeaten by sweeping past Philippine Army with little trouble. Robert Lopez Mendy scored a brace in the first half, with David Angelo Diamente returning from an injury layoff to score eight minutes from time.

If the Archers win against Pachanga in their final match, and Stallion fails to get a point against Global, the Archers will finish in fourth spot, its highest finish in the 1st Division.