Global FC extended their league winning streak to three games after they squeaked past the Loyola Meralco Sparks, 1-0, in Saturday’s main game. Daisuke Sato provided the decisive touch to keep Global’s bid to regain the title on the right track.
The game began with both teams squandering set piece opportunities. Out of those chances, Milan Nikolic came closest to opening the score. He managed to test Loyola goalkeeper Tomas Trigo with a header from an Ivan Petrovic corner. The Azkals reserve goalkeeper was fortunately in the right place to palm his attempt away. It sparked The People’s Club to take the initiative soon after. Sato’s brilliantly-finished curler shot past Trigo to make it 1-0 for Global.
It nearly became 2-0 for the 2016 UFL Cup Champions when Dennis Villanueva was brought down in the box by Simon Greatwich. Petrovic stepped up to take the kick, but it didn’t have enough power to get past Trigo. Given the opportunity to respond before the break, Loyola had to stay solid at the back to stay in the game. They were successful in keeping Global at distance, but their inability to finish their rare chances meant that the score stayed at 1-0 come halftime. Alvaro Castiella had a glorious chance at levelling matters but he was denied by Global goalkeeper Patrick Deyto in the 36th minute.
After the break, Loyola hit the ground running with two quick chances. In the first minute of the second half, James Younghusband was invited to shoot as he was left unmarked outside the box. The Loyola midfielder tried his luck and was denied by Sato’s timely block. Moments later, Greatwich had a wonderful shot parried away by Deyto. Younghusband was at it again with a free kick going just wide 52 minutes in.
As much as Global controlled the pace in the first half, Loyola asserted their dominance but lacked the creativity to convert into goals. Two minutes after the hour mark, Castiella threatened to level and felt that he should have done so had it not been for Deyto, who cleared his effort away.
On their part, Global almost made the lead safer in the 69th minute. Petrovic took a free kick on the edge of the box, forcing a reaction save from Trigo. Towards the end, Phil Younghusband came on to try salvaging the result for the Sparks but all he could produce was an audacious shot well-read by Deyto. Global held on to preserve not just a clean sheet, but a 100% record in the league as well.
In today’s other matches, defending champions Ceres-La Salle returned to winning ways following a 6-0 demolition of Nomads. Nate Burkey starred for the busmen with a hat trick and an assist to show against their helpless foes. Burkey got the ball rolling two minutes in and there was no looking back for Ceres-La Salle at that point. He added another one before setting up Oladipo Okunaiya for a 3-0 half time lead. They duplicated the output in the second half, with Marvin Angeles and Bienvenido Marañon joining the scoring party. Inevitably, Burkey sealed his hat trick to close out a fine week for Ceres-La Salle, who had also sealed qualification as top seed into the Round of 16 of the AFC Cup.
In the early morning game, Agila were denied their first win this season in their 2-2 draw with Pasargad. A goalless first half was followed by an explosive second half that went open once Korean Jeong Hyeon Son got Agila the lead at the 49th minute. UAAP Season 78 Best Striker Jarvey Gayoso padded the lead for Agila with only six minutes left in normal time. Yet, victory was not meant to be for Agila as Pasargad’s Woo Song tallied a late brace to make sure it was honours even between his team and Agila, who in the process collected their first points of the season.
