Izzo delivers game winner, keeps UFL title race tighter

Manila, Philippines – Izzo Elhabib returned triumphantly as Global’s United Football League title hopes stayed alive after a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 victory over rival Stallion-Sta. Lucia on Tuesday night at the packed Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill, Taguig.

Elhabib, who missed Global’s 2-0 shutdown of the Phil. Air Force the last time out, came back from a suspension with the game winner in the 78^th minute. The Sudanese striker breakaway goal completed Global’s comeback from an early goal down to stay in the hunt for a second straight league title.

More than sweeping their head-to-head matches this season, Global was able to cut Stallion’s lead to just two points, 42-40, in the league table in what promises to be a neck-and-neck race to the title in the final three weeks.

Stallion looked poised to get its revenge and the title in the bag when Hector Zaghi sneaked in the first goal of the match in between two Global defenders in the 24^th minute.  That goal pricked the bubble of Global’s impenetrable defense that held its last five opponents scoreless heading into this all-important game of the season.

As the title looked to be slipping away from the defending champions, Ben Starosta gave them a chance to stay on course with the equalizer in the 54^th minute.  

Both clubs actually struggled at the start of each halves with Elhabib missing a couple of chances early in the opening half. It was the turn of Rufo Sanchez, Stallion’s star striker, to fire blanks in two clear-cut chances after that Starosta goal.

With the title on the line, it came down to the biggest stars to win the match for their clubs. Unfortunately for the league-leading Stallion, the two Sanchez blunders proved more telling as they allowed Global to come back and steal the game in the end.

Jeffrey Christiaens, who also missed an early scoring opportunity in the opening half, found a streaking Elhabib for the breakaway goal that proved to be the biggest difference 12 minutes before injury time.

With three more matches left to play, Global now has a control of its own destiny but the road to a second straight league title remains tough with Loyola, Kaya and Army as roadblocks in succession.  

To have a chance at the title, Stallion must take care of its last two matches against Nomads and Loyola and will hope that Global will falter down the stretch.