Global rips Pachanga; Kaya wins

Games today

1:45 p.m. – Ceres-La Salle vs Dolphins United (Second Division)

4 p.m. – Manila All-Japan vs Cimarron (Second Division)

6:15 p.m. – Loyola Meralco Sparks vs Team Socceroo

8:30 p.m. – Stallion vs Philippine Army

MANILA, Philippines - Global trounced Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr, 4-1, to remain within striking distance of pacesetting Loyola Meralco Sparks in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City Thursday night.

Mark Hartmann turned in a brace in the first half as the Global booters dominated the undermanned Pachanga side, which lost Joachim Amani and Steve Yambou to injuries before the half-hour mark. Skipper Reza Amirkhizan later joined them on the sidelines with a red card for an apparent headbutt.

Earlier, Kaya snapped a two-game skid as it thumped Pasargad, 3-1.

Hartmann opened the scoring in the 24th minute, dispatching of Marwin Angeles’ expertly timed through ball with a clinical finish into the bottom left corner. The national team mainstay doubled his tally 10 minutes later, coolly slotting in after playing a clever 1-2 with Charles Pettys at the edge of Pachanga’s box. Right-back Jayson Cutamora then gave away the ball inside his own box to gift Misagh Bahadoran Global’s third just a few moments after.

The win hiked Global’s output to 12 points, just three behind Loyola, after five matches played. Pachanga dropped to sixth with six points from five matches.

Kaya scored three goals in the second half to overcome Pasargad in the day’s early kick-off. Hamed Fateh scored against the run of play to give the First Division’s bottom club the lead into the half.

Kenshiro Daniels headed in the equalizer at resumption then OJ Porteria completed the turnaround 15 minutes from time, latching on to Emmanuel Mbata’s cross to make it 2-1 for Kaya. The 19-year-old rising star scored his fifth goal of the league moments later to secure the points. Cleared off the line on his first attempt, Porteria got the ball back, worked an opening before burying the second goal.

“It’s nice to get three points. We made it difficult for ourselves again. We couldn’t convert in the first half. We had nine shots on goal,” said coach David Perkovic. “The half-time talk was about remaining patient. Don’t panic. It’s nice that we were a little more clinical in the second half.”

Kaya thus moved to third with points while Pasargad stayed in the bottom with one point.