UFL: Kaya dump Stallion, but their fate is in Global's hands

With the top four clubs in action on ‘Super Tuesday,’ Kaya FC faced off against Stallion FC in the first game of the day, knowing anything less than a win would put them out of contention for the UFL League title. Needing to attack from the word “go,” pressing forward Nate Burkey and Prince Boley were chosen on the Kaya wings with Eric Dagroh and Joshua Beloya as strikers. Lexton Moy and Jonahan Romero also got the nod to start, a move that gave security in the holding midfield roles, to allow for a more attack-oriented 4-2-4 formation, as Kaya knew they needed goals to have a chance at winning the league. First half It was Stallion FC which had the first chance though, as they allowed Kaya to come forward, hitting them quickly on the counter. In the eighth minute, Ruben Doctora  beat two defenders for pace, but was pushed to a tight angle and his shot was smartly stopped by Saba Garmaroudi, who was in goal for Kaya. Stallion had another good chance ten minutes later with Doctora almost in on goal, but Jason Sabio’s last ditch tackle saved his side. The frustration began to take a toll early on for the Kaya players as they were dominating possession but couldn’t break through the Stallions’ backline. In the 23rd minute, Joshua Beloya was fouled and reacted badly, confronting his defender, who quickly left the scene before the problem escalated. The free-kick was well positioned but Anton Del Rosario hit the wall. Eric Dagroh was warned by the referee soon after for reacting to the referee’s decision to give another free-kick while Lexton Moy was also given a word – though the referee did seem to be giving a lot of soft free-kicks both ways. Beloya eventually got the first yellow card of the game for a bad tackle from behind, but much of Kaya’s frustration was eased in the last minute of normal time of the first half when Beloya chested down a cross and played it into the path of Nate Burkey, who rifled the ball into the bottom corner to put Kaya ahead. Now leading and still in control of the game, Dagroh almost doubled the lead a minute later when he jinked past two defenders, but his shot with the outside of the boot just went wide. Burkey’s goal meant that Kaya was sitting on top of the table, as it stood at the time, and gave them hope of winning the UFL. Second half Prince Boley made way for Adrian Semblat at half-time, after a poor showing in the first half from the winger. And while the first half was full of soft free-kicks the second was characterized more by fouls not given. Frustration seemed to get the better of both sides as after being fouled, but with no free-kick given, Jonahan Romero pushed Bervic Italia. Of course that should be a yellow card but no bookings were given. Nate Burkey had a couple more opportunities next as he first shot tamely after being passed to from a free-kick. On the next go, his touch was too heavy on a chipped through ball and the keeper, Mark Muñoz, managed to get to the ball first. Both teams were visibly annoyed by several of the referee’s decisions, though Masanari Omura’s yellow card was well deserved as he slid in from behind. Jovanie Simpron, a second half substitute, then had a good chance to equalize as Yoon Byeong Jun floated the ball wide, and as it was played back in, Simpron found himself free at the back post. His shot was too close to Saba and the Kaya keeper gathered the ball in. OJ Clarino then had the chance to level the scores as he got the ball from a cleared corner, and feinted past one defender, but he shot over with his left foot in the 66th minute. Doctora was sent free in the 70th minute, turning inside on his man, but the Stallion captain kept dribbling and took too long on the ball, allowing defenders to get back and block his eventual shot. Moments later Kaya, got back into the game and Eric Dagroh had a chance to kill off the match as he nicked the ball off his defender and dribbled at goal, but his shot went just over. In the 80th minute, Stallion was reduced to ten men as Doctora received his marching orders for a second yellow card, this time for a late challenge on Kaya’s goalkeeper. It took a while for him to leave the pitch as he argued with the referees and it pretty much ended the Stallions’ challenge to Kaya, who had until, then looked the most likely to score the next goal. And before the final whistle Anton Del Rosario found himself in the referee’s book as he argued and shouted at OJ Clarino after the Stallion forward followed through on a high tackle and caught the former Azkal. The whistle sounded shortly after, though, to the relief of the Kaya fans and players who celebrated the 1-0 win, knowing it gave them a chance of lifting the UFL League trophy. The tension built to the climactic finale as the next game would decide whether Kaya or Global would be crowned UFL Champions as a draw or win for Global would mean they would win the league while if Loyola could defeat Global, as they did in the last meeting between the two which ended 4-3 in favor of the Sparks, Kaya would become champions.  - AMD, GMA News