Stallion-Laguna scores first point in AFC Cup after draw

Stallion-Laguna became the first from the Philippines to produce a point in this year’s Asian club competitions after settling for a 2-2 draw on the road to Malaysia’s Terengganu in Thursday’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.

The Philippines Football League side was minutes away from producing a breakthrough victory when Thai striker Adisak Kraisorn scored an equalizing header that helped Terengganu steal a point in front of its home supporters at Abidin Stadium.

Stallion actually squandered a two-goal lead after Finn McDaniel came through with the opener six minutes after kickoff and Junior Sam also scored in the 41st.

But coach Ernie Nierras and the Horsemen are likely glad to have produced a tie after dropping their first two matches in the Binan outfit’s maiden appearance on the continental front.

Stallion remains at the bottom of the four-team Group G, halfway into the group stage.

Kaya-Iloilo, its semifinal opponent in the Copa Paulino Alcantara, has lost all three matches in the top-tier AFC Champions League.

The other PFL team in the AFC Cup, Dynamic Herb Cebu, suffered two defeats in Group F and was facing Myanmar’s Shan United as of posting time at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Terengganu pulled one back before the halftime break on a goal from Haitian footballer Sony Norde, but Stallion was resolute in trying to lead the scoreline.

Stallion, however, couldn’t preserve the lead and Adisak scored from close range to even things up for Terengganu.