Kaya’s title chances fade after Stallion draw

Games today

4 p.m. – Cimarron vs Manila All-Japan

6:15 p.m. – Loyola Meralco Sparks

vs Green Archers United

8:30 p.m. – Pasargad vs Global

MANILA, Philippines - Kaya FC played Stallion Gilligan’s to a scoreless draw, and stayed at third, failing in its bid to remain in the title hunt in the UFL football competitions at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill in Tauig.

After Global’s win over Loyola Meralco Tuesday night, the pressure was on Kaya to close the gap and keep the title race alive. But against a very tough and resilient Stallion Gilligan’s, the first division third placers could not find the crucial goal that would keep them in the hunt.

In the first match of the day, Team Socceroo defeated Philippine Army-GTI, 2-0,  in front of a rambunctious crowd to secure survival in the UFL’s top tier.

“Makes it very difficult [now],” said Kaya head coach David Perkovic on his side’s title aspirations. “In the first half we had complications with our gameplay. Certain positions weren’t executing what I wanted, so we wasted a half of football. Second half we dominated because they did what I wanted them to do in the beginning. Trying to cram 90 minutes of opportunities into 45 makes it difficult.”

Kaya came agonizingly close on several occasions to score the opener. Jovin Bedic came closest in the first period, with the Philippine national denied only by Wilson Muñoz’s reaction save after firing in between the goalkeeper’s legs. The second period brought more chances for Kaya, particularly late in the game. Emmanuel Mbata rattled the crossbar in a scramble inside the box. And right before the final whistle, Pablo Rodriguez cushioned a cross onto the path of a wide open Chris Greatwich, who sent his header over.

Capping off a frustrating evening for the title hopefuls, OJ Porteria was sent off in stoppage time, after the young attacker got into an altercation with Stallion right back Matthew Nierras on the sideline. Both players were shown red, but Stallion are likely to protest the decision to send off Nierras, who didn’t seem to respond to Porteria’s pushing.

“OJ showed his immaturity today, reacting to some nonsense that was given out to him. He’s a kid, so there’s going to be occasions when that happens and he has to grow up. He has to learn from these things because today was an important game for us. It might’ve been a situation where we could’ve scored the winning goal. He’s got a lot of responsibility with this club and also his national team, so he can’t let those incidents creep into his game. I find it really really unacceptable. We’ll deal with it internally,” said Perkovic

“Well I’d rather be in the title race than the spoiler. But us right now, what’s important is not to lose. We need to keep trying to win,” said Stallion coach Ernie Nierras. “We almost conceded a goal at the very end. The guys were tired. I don’t think it should’ve been a red in the end. It was just kids with too much hormones.”

The match marked the return of Aly Borromeo from a longterm troublesome knee injury, but it wasn’t to be a happy comeback for the former Azkals and Kaya captain. His club now needs Global to slip up at least twice before their clash in order to have any sort of chance at winning the League title. As it stands, Kaya is seven points behind, leaders Global, who have 44 points. Stallion remains in fourth with 29 points after 19 matches.

Second half goals from Park Yi Young and Beleu-Ebi Timi Cleopas handed Team Socceroo a crucial victory over Philippine Army-GTI in the earlier match.

The victory gave the eighth-placed side a seven-point cushion over relegation-threatened Pasargad, with only five games remaining in both teams’ campaigns.

Given Pasargad’s struggles this season, the win makes survival in the UFL top flight a virtual certainty for Socceroo. In front of an impressive number of boisterous supporters, the recent 2nd Division champions put Army to the sword in what was a highly entertaining open game of football. Park’s left-footed missile from outside the box in the 66th minute was a just reward for Socceroo’s constant attacking pressure. And with Army fighting back to search for an equalizer, Cleopas put the game to bed with a well-taken strike two minutes into stoppage time. Despite not ending up on the scoresheet, Diego Barrera once again put in a spectacular display for his team, proving instrumental in all of his club’s best moments.

Socceroo now has 13 points in 19 matches, while Army remains in seventh, with 17 points in 20 games.