MANILA, Philippines - Kaya FC fought back from two goals down and frustrated Global FC, 3-2, in a crucial United Football League match Thursday night, giving the UFL First Division crown to Stallion Sta. Lucia FC at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley.
Foiled in its bid to clinch the outright title following a 1-1 standoff with Loyola Meralco two nights before, the Stallion booters finally bagged the crown off the field, thanks to Kaya FC’s come-from-behind win over a dejected Global side.
Stallion finished with 46 match points on 15 victories and a draw against two defeats, six points ahead of Global, which bowed to the LBC-backed Kaya for the second time this season.
Interestingly, Global also blew a 2-0 lead in their April 11 faceoff and lost via the same score, 3-2.
Global had hoped for a sweep of its last two games to gain a crack at the championship but settled for second with 40 points on a 13-1-3 (win-draw-loss) slate. The Global booters wind up their campaign against Army FC on June 20.
Sudanese striker Izzo El Habbib scored on the ninth and 36th for Global but Chris Greatwich countered after his muffed shot circled back to him before unloading a 39th-minute rocket.
Junior Muñoz then headed the equalizing goal off a fantastic cross by Logan McDaniel on the 56th.
Global, despite playing with just 10 men following the ejection of Jason de Jong of Global for a second yellow card, went for broke but its ploy backfired, enabling Masanari Omura of Kaya to blast away on the break.
His shot though hit Global goalie Roland Dely Sadia that ricocheted straight into Carlie de Murga’s foot before landing inside the net on the 81st minute goal that virtually dashed the title hopes of Dan Palami’s charges.
The Stallion booters in the crowd, headed by scoring champion Rufino Familiar Sanchez of Spain, joined their Kaya counterparts, who ended up fourth overall with 31 points, in celebration.