KAYA salvaged a 1-all draw with Stallion
Wednesday night in a highly physical duel and remained in third spot in the
United Football League at the University of Makati.
Bidding to tie league leader Global on
points, Kaya couldn’t gain ground against a spirited Stallion side that was only
denied by maximum points when Saba Garmaroudi saved Ruben Doctora’s injury-time
penalty.
Kaya midfielder Okoro Ubiam canceled out
Jomar Lestiongo’s 35th minute strike four minutes before halftime in a replay of
their first-round clash that was halted because of lightning.
Stallion drew first blood on the counter
with Doctora beating Anton and Arman del Rosario to deliver a cross for
Lestingio.
But Ubiam leveled the match by bundling
home a headed pass from Jason Sabio from close range.
Stallion had three glorious chances in the
second half with its best opportunity coming in stoppage time when Doctora was
fouled by Garmaroudi inside the box.
But the Stallion captain could only send
his penalty straight at Garmaroudi, paving the way for the draw.
Stallion manager Ernie Nierras said the
draw felt more like a loss.
“We had the game with that late penalty,”
he said. “It was our mistake we missed the penalty. We lost it in the end.”
The result left Kaya in third spot, level
on points with Loyola Meralco, but behind on goal difference. Stallion increased
its total to 22 points, tightening its grip on fourth spot.
why ruben D kicked the late penalty was beyond me..... there is an unwritten rule in football,,, the player that was fouled should never take the penalty kick!!!
ReplyDeletehmmmmmm....