Sparks seek vital win vs Nomads XI

LOYOLA Meralco tries to stay in the title hunt when it clashes with struggling Nomads tonight in the United Football League at Emperador Stadium in Taguig City.

After losing to Kaya, 1-3, last week, the Sparks are hard pressed to take maximum points in the 7:30 p.m. battle and remain in the thick of the title race in the final stretch of the season.

The match will also serve as a warm-up for the Sparks before they fly to Singapore this weekend for their Singapore Cup first-round duel with Harimau Muda-B, Malaysia’s Under-19 squad, at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday.

Now seven points behind Stallion and two behind Global, the Sparks, in third spot with 32 points, can no longer afford a draw with four rounds remaining in the league.

The Nomads have not won a match since the first week of March when they beat Army, 3-0. But they are expected to have goalkeeper Friso Klok and striker Fidelis Nnabuife back in the lineup, after the duo missed the 2-7 loss to Pasargad last week.

Kaya, left to fight for a Top 4 finish after a run of disappointing results, faces relegation-threatened Army in the 5:15 p.m. kickoff.

Its morale boosted by last week’s win over Loyola, Kaya remains an enigma this season as it had struggled to put away lower-ranked sides while coming up big against the top guns.

Army, with its aging roster, looks destined to play second division football next season after going winless in more than two months.

But a win today could put pressure on Air Force, which is just two points ahead of its Armed Forces rival.