Stallion, Global stay on top of UFL standings with wins

MANILA, Philippines – Stallion FC and Global FC pulled off identical results against different opponents to keep their lofty perch in the First Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City Thursday night.

Stallion blanked Pachanga Diliman FC, 2-0, to fortify its grip of the solo lead with 42 points on 14 victories against a lone loss, a clear five points away from closest pursuer Global, which stayed at No. 2 by downing Air Force FC by the same score.

The win by Global, managed by Phl Azkals team manager Dan Palami, kept it at second with 37 points on 12 triumphs and a draw against a setback.

Hector Zaghi gave the Ernest Nierras-mentored Stallion side an early 1-0 lead thanks to the eighth minute goal of Hector Zaghi before Matthias Bonvehi drilled in a brilliant goal on the 79th to seal it.

In contrast, Global had a hard time manufacturing one against the strong defensive job put up by Air Force after the two held each other scoreless after the first half and in the early part of the second.

But Misagh Bahadoran, a member of the Phl Azkals team, shattered the deadlock by unleashing a 57th minute rocket and another Azkal, Fil-German Jeffrey Christiaens, struck nine minutes later to wrap the win for Global.

Pachanga Diliman fell to its seventh defeat against the same number of triumphs and a deadlock and was left stranded at No. 5 with 22 points, two points behind No. 4 Kaya FC with 24 points.

Loyola Meralco Sparks, a club spearheaded by Phil and James Younghusband, was idle at No. 3 with 33 points.

Air Force remained ninth and second to last with six points on two wins against 13 defeats.