Depleted Stallion forces Kaya to scoreless draw

MANILA, Philippines - Stallion Gilligan bucked the loss of midfielder Oussenynou Diop and forced fancied Kaya FC to a scoreless draw, foiling the latter’s bid to close in on First Division leaders Loyola Meralco Sparks and Global FC in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig Sunday night.

Diop was tossed out on the 53rd after receiving a second yellow card but the LBC-bankrolled Kaya booters failed to score with Anton del Rosario, who was recently called up to play for the Phl Azkals team, missing a long-range effort in one stretch.

The draw gave Kaya and Stallion a point with the former staying at third with 20 points, six points behind the pace-setting Loyola Meralco Sparks with 26 and five behind No. 2 Global with 25.

Stallion remained way behind in fourth with 15 points.

Stallion actually had more scoring chances in the first half with Ruben Doctora Jr., who also suited up for the Azkals in the pair of friendly matches against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and Azerbaijan in Dubai last week, nearly coming through on the 33rd.

Fitch Davis Arboleda and Mario Javier Clarino also had their chances on the 19th and 40th minutes, respectively, but both blew their attempts.

Then came the ejection of Diop, who got his first yellow on the 26th, early in the second half but Kaya, despite dictating the phase for the rest of the match, failed to cash in.