Filtered By: Sports
Sports

UFL: Stallions trample coach-less Kaya to keep up with Global


Rufo Sanchez of Stallions FC (L) takes a shot at Kaya FC's goal. Mark Cristino
After Global’s 6-0 hammering of Army in the game prior to this one, the Stallions knew a win against Kaya would be needed to match pace with the defending champions. On the other hand, Kaya were looking to catch up, after a disappointing start that included losing their coach earlier in the week, with a victory here. In the first meeting between two of the top four clubs of last season, it was the Stallions who came out on top against a lackluster Kaya side, 2-1, Tuesday at the Emperador Stadium. Second half scores from Balut Doctora, poaching a goal from a corner, and Bervic Italia, lofting the ball over Saba Sadeghi, gave Stallions the win, though Janrick Sorian pulled back a goal late on to set up a dramatic finale. Unfortunately, Kenrisho Daniels couldn’t head beyond Wilson Munoz in the best chance to equalize, allowing Stallions to maintain their 100 percent win record. First half The game started quickly as Prince Mark Boley fired at Saba Sadeghi, looking to score against his former employers, in the second minute. Alu Kigbu received the first yellow card of the game bringing down his man, though replays made the call look questionable. Rufo Sanchez found space on the left wing and powered a shot at goal, but it curled away before he crossed for Jason De Jong soon after. The battling midfielder couldn’t get enough on the ball from a tight angle though.   The Stallions were looking the more intense team in the opening exchanges and Rufo Sanchez was almost clean through, but he couldn’t control  pass and his quickfire shot went straight into Sadeghi’s arms from the edge of the area. Stallions again threatened as a cross came in from the right, this time resulting in Kim Hyo Il shooting just wide of the goal. Jason De Jong won a corner after beating two men and driving his team forward, and while Saba Sadeghi punched the ball away, it wasn’t far enough, as the ball fizzed back at the keeper only. Anywhere else and the powerful shot would have flown into the goal but Sadeghi breathed a sigh of relief as the ball flew into him, giving him a chance to regain control.   The fluidity of the Stallions’ play was causing Kaya problems. Balut Doctora came deep for the ball several times and the constant changing of positions made it difficult for Kaya to mark the players. Then in the 37th minute, Dario Dakic shielded the ball from Rufo Sanchez, in a dangerous position on the right wing, before Boley slid in to win the ball back, but again Kaya defended stoutly to slide in and block another attempt. That was really the story of the first half as the Stallions threatened the Kaya goal all throughout, and looked better in possession, but Kaya defended well to keep the scores goalless. They even almost stole the half as Nate Burkey shot over from distance in the 40th minute. The high-pitch screams of the crowd could be clearly heard throughout the game and the loudest scream came in injury time of the first half when Jeremy Hohn chested the ball down and blasted a shot at goal. The ball swerved in the air from 35 yards out and Saba Sadeghi made a mess of it as the ball slipped through his hands, but he was saved by the bar as it bounced off the woodwork and away to safety.
Stallions FC's Ruben Doctora (R) gets tackled from behind by Kaya FC's Dario Dakic. KC Cruz
Second half After knocking on the door throughout the first half, the Stallions broke through in the 47th minute. Kaya however set the table to their own downfall though, as one defender missed his header. Dario Dakic could only poke the ball back into the danger area from the edge of the six yards box, but that put it on a plate for Balut Doctora, who duly obliged and swept the ball into the back of the net. Doctora almost doubled his tally and the Stallions’ lead, picking the ball up in space from 25 yards out, turning and shooting at goal. His powerful shot went just over the bar, a clear display of how Kaya had a lot to do to get back into the game and show that they could be title contenders this season. Joo Young Lee then got himself into the book as he brought down OJ Porteria from just over 20 yards out, but after picking himself up, Porteria could only blast into the wall. Prince Boley then won a free-kick for the Stallions in a similar position, falling over Anton Del Rosario, before he was replaced by Bervic Italia in the 59th minute, but the Stallions also wasted the chance, shooting well over. Stallions doubled their lead in the 70th minute as a long ball over the top was headed away by Saba Sadeghi, but only as far as Bervic Italia. Taking a touch to control the ball, he lofted it over the Kaya keeper and into the empty net. Park Bo Bae got himself into the book, clipping OJ Porteria before Eric Dagroh replaced Sean Illif in the game as Kaya looked to get something back. Things got a little more heated as Bervic Italia kicked out at Chris Greatwich, the scoring substitute pushing the veteran Azkal over before kicking the ball into his stomach. No yellow card was shown, though one was deserved, and the free-kick from Kaya was launched far too deep as they continued to lack a threat in front of goal. Things heated up even further as the Stallions were reduced to ten men, with Park Bo Bae sent off for his second yellow card. The Stallions will certainly feel hard done by the booking and Eric Dagroh could have seen red when he launched himself into a sideways, two-footed challenge on Jason De Jong, but saw yellow instead. De Jong, in the past the bad boy in these situations, saw the funny side and smiled as he walked away, the Azkal midfielder himself yet to booked this season, a fact coach Ernie Nierras was proud mentioning after a shooting of FTW, as the midfielder continues to impress. Kaya grabbed a lifeline in the 88th minute as substitute Janrick Soriano latched onto a good, through pass from OJ Porteria and slotted the ball into the corner on his first touch in a very nice team goal. That sprung Kaya back into life with another substitute, Kenshiro Daniels, running onto a chipped ball from Antonio Ugarte, heading it past Wilson Munoz, who had run off his line, but the ball just bounced agonizingly wide of the goal. Ultimately it was too little too late as the full-time whistle sounded soon after to the delight of the Stallions, who took their fourth win in four games to join Global on twelve points at the top of the league. - AMD, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT