DEFENDING champion Stallion FC cashed in on an uncharacteristic early miscue by Kaya FC to hack out a 1-0 breakthrough victory in the United Football League on Tuesday night at the Emperador Stadium in Mckinley Hill.
After Kaya gifted them with an own goal 36 minutes into the game courtesy of Andrew Liauw, the Stallions showed enough resolve on defense in the second half to hold off their opponents and register the confidence-boosting win, their first in three games.
The Stallions, who hiked their point total to five points to move two places up in the standings to fifth place, dealt Kaya its second loss in four games and stayed provisionally in second spot.
“It’s very relieving,” Stallions coach Ernie Nierras said. “I’ll take the win. We’ll take it any way we can get it.”
“For whatever reason, they always bring out the best in us. Hopefully we’ll carry this over,” added the outspoken coach, whose team is in the midst of a tough schedule that will see it take on league-leading Loyola Meralco next.
Kaya controlled possession in the second half in an effort to overhaul the early error, but Ken Daniels and Miguel Tanton missed their share of attempts.
Nierras deployed Ousseynou Diop and Milan Arends in the midfield to disrupt the distribution of Chris Greatwich.
Stallions goalkeeper Pedro Marenco was booked for a yellow card for seemingly delaying the game when Kaya was on a last-gasp rally.
But the Spaniard was subbed to homegrown veteran Wilson Muñoz a few moments later as he appeared to injure his left shoulder.
“I guess some of the guys were upset because they thought he was faking it, but I’m not gonna sub a keeper and he’s never gonna want out just to waste time,” Nierras stressed.
spin
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