STALLION Laguna FC’s 5-0 rout of Lion City Sailors FC of Singapore on Wednesday night gave them hope in reaching the knockout stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26.
The Philippine side’s progression will now depend on the points’ tally and the difference tiebreak that they will have with the other third-placed finishers of two other groups.
“Right now, we’re just happy if we can go to the next round. The girls have done everything they can,”said coach Ernie Nierras.
Chandler McDaniel sparked a scoring binge when she forced a good save from Nur Izairida in the 21st minute. And from a corner kick, she sent it to Halleran Johnson, who nodded it home.
Stallions Laguna doubled its advantage a minute before the halftime break, when Tayla Christensen fed the ball to McDaniel, who delivered a thumping shot into the roof of the net.
“We’ve set a target and they have met it. We cannot control what’s going to happen in the other groups but so far we’ve reduced the deficit in the goals against and that was helped by the goals scored in this match,” added Nierras.
Tayla Christensen then followed with two more goals in the 74th and 83rd minutes, before Chandler added another in the 88th minute.
Melbourne City FC wrapped up their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Ho Chi Minh City, and a sweep of Group A.
Host Ho Chi Minh City settled for second at 2-0-1, and earned the second berth.
