Burkey delivers key goals in Kaya win over Global

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Nate Burkey took charge in the second half, delivering two goals, including the game-winner late in regulation, as Kaya FC rallied from a 0-2 deficit to eke out a 3-2 victory over Global FC to keep its hopes alive in the First Division of the United Football League.

Playing before a sizeable Thursday night crowd at the McKinley Hill field in Taguig City, the LBC-backed Kaya refused to give up despite trailing by two goals early with Burkey stepping up to rally the team with a big second half explosion.

Trailing by a goal at halftime, 1-2, Kaya went to Burkey, a former member of the Phl Azkals team, who tied the count on the 54th then another on the 83rd when he drilled in the goal coming from Global goalie Ed Sacapano’s block off an OJ Porteria attempt.

The marginal goal sent Kaya, mentored by David Perkovic, to solo fourth with 15 match points on four victories and three draws against three losses while sending Global FC, which missed suspended top striker Izzo El Habib of Sudan, to its first defeat after an eight-game stretch of seven triumphs and a draw.

It also prevented the Dan Palami-mentored side from seizing the solo lead as Global FC remained at No. 2 with 22 points, two points behind idle pace-setter Stallion FC, which has 24 points on eight victories against a defeat.

Global appeared headed to victory after Fil-German Patrick Reichelt scored two goals in succession, the first on the seventh minute and the other a minute later, as he pierced through Fil-Canadian keeper Nick O’Donnell and the sloppy Kaya defense at the onset of the match.

But Kaya struck back behind Masanari Omura, who came through with a 19th minute rocket to cut the goal deficit to one.

In the only other match of the night, PSG FC overpowered a nine-man Air Force FC, 5-0, to move to joint No. 6 with Nomads FC with 11 points apiece on three wins and two deadlocks against four setbacks.

Younousse Yaogo scored the match’s first goal on the 32nd minute but the Air Force booters vehemently protested, claiming the former was in offside position before he came through with the goal.