Sparks rally to force standoff vs Global FC

MANILA, Philippines - Bradley Grayson fired two goals and keeper Tomas Trigo stopped a late penalty as Loyola Meralco Sparks salvaged a 2-2 draw with dethroned champion Global FC Wednesday night in the United Football League at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Grayson directed his header into the net off a Joaquin Canas set in the 40th and blasted another in the 55th minute after which Trigo foiled what could have been Daisuke Sato’s game-winning spot kick for Global, enabling the Sparks to wipe out a 0-2 deficit and get the one point.

“We didn’t deserve to lose that game,” said Loyola Meralco coach Simon McMenemy.

The Sparks improved to 32 points, the same output as Global, the second-running squad in the table. Ceres La Salle FC had already clinched the league title with 40 points with two games to spare in its slate, leaving the rest in a battle for No. 2.

In the other fixture, Tishan Hanley (6’, 74’, 90+1’) blasted a hattrick while OJ Porteria (19’, 30’) chipped in a brace to power Kaya FC to a 7-0 shuout of Team Socceroo.

Alfred Kofi Osei (22’) and Kenshiro Daniels (55’) also scored for Kaya, which hiked its card to 31 and fourth spot.

The Sparks found themselves playing catch up initially as Izzo Elhabib beat Trigo for the opening goal nine minutes into the match. Misagh Bahadoran doubled the lead with a tight-angled shot in the 31st.

But the Sparks wouldn’t roll over and die. Five minutes before intermission, Canas sent the ball to Grayson who nodded it home. The Canas-Grayson connection repeated the act 15 minutes after restart to draw level.

Global got its chance to steal the victory when Eddie Mallari was called for a foul against OJ Clarino inside the box. Sato took the shot but fellow Azkal Trigo blocked it and saved the night for Loyola Meralco.