Kaya wins, grabs UFL lead

By JONAS TERRADO

Manila, Philippines – Kaya leaned on an early scoring binge for a 2-1 victory over Pasargad on Thursday night to overtake idle Global for the lead in the UFL first division at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Team captain Aly Borromeo, still trying to return to top form after an ACL injury last year, scored in on a 20th minute free kick before Adrian Semblat struck 11 minutes later which was enough for Kaya to overcame Pasargad’s second half rally.

Mohammad Ohadi scored Pasargad’s only goal which came in the 51st minute but the team failed to make an equalizer despite having majority of the possession the rest of the way to hand Kaya the victory.

It was a key win for Kaya, which secured its 12th win against three draws and two losses for 39 points to regain the top spot heading into its final assignment on Tuesday against Stallion Giligan’s.

Global fell to second place at 38 points (12-2-2) while the Loyola Meralco Sparks, who absorbed a stunning 2-1 loss to defending champion and fifth placer Philippine Air Force Phoenix on Wednesday, remain in third at 35 points (11-2-3).

At presstime, the Sparks were trying to force a tie with Global for second against seventh-running Nomads Auction Manila at Rizal.

But Global is seeking to reclaim the solo lead from Kaya when it takes on Air Force today at the same venue.

Global needs to win against the upset-minded Airmen to put itself in a position to go for the championship against Meralco on Tuesday.

Earlier, Stallion Giligan’s blanked Philippine Army Fritz & Maciol, 30, to hike its record to 8-4-4 for 28 points. The Stallions are seven points back of Pasargad for fourth place.