MANILA, Philippines - Kaya FC leaned on a two-goal cushion in the first half then held off Pasargad FC in the second half to eke out a 2-1 victory and wrest the solo lead from Global FC in the First Division of the United Football League at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Thursday night.
Team captain Aly Borromeo, slowly getting back in top shape after sitting it out most of the year with a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), scored on the 20th minute before Adrian Semblat made it a 2-0 11 minutes later.
Mohammed Ohadi broke Pasargad’s scoreless spell with a rocket on the 51st but the Kaya booters preserved the lead and the victory with tough defensive play the rest of the way.
The victory thus sent Kaya FC, bankrolled by LBC Hari ng Padala, back on top with 39 points on 12 wins and three draws against two defeats, edging Global FC, which has 38 points on a 12-2-2 (win-draw-loss) record.
The Loyola Meralco Sparks are in third with 35 points on an 11-2-3 slate. They, however, are gunning for a share of second against Nomads Auction Manila at presstime yesterday also at the Rizal pitch.
Pasargad FC, meanwhile, remained in fifth with a 6-3-8 mark.
Meanwhile, Stallion Gilligan’s FC routed a rough-playing Army Fritz & Macziol FC, 3-0, to clinch fourth place with 28 points on an 8-4-4 card.
Korean Lee Joo Young scored right on the first minute before countryman Yoon Byeong Jun and Reuben Doctora, Jr. followed it up to break the match wide open right in the first half.