Stallion dims Kaya’s hopes with scoreless standoff

MANILA, Philippines — Stallion dealt Kaya’s already slim title hopes a huge blow following a goalless draw Thursday night in the United Football League at Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

Joven Bedic, Emmanuel Mbata and Chris Greatwich bungled clear-cut chances as Kaya failed to break down a resilient Stallion side, making its drive to supplant Global at the top more difficult now.

Global dumped equally star-studded Loyola Meralco, 2-1, Tuesday to open up a five-point gap at the top with six matches left, putting Kaya under pressure to grab maximun points in its remaining matches. Kaya is now seven points behind Global, which has 44 points. Stallion remains in fourth with 29 points after 19 matches.

“It makes it very difficult,” said Kaya coach David Perkovic of his side’s title aspirations. “We had complications with our game play in the first half. Trying to cram 90 minutes of opportunities into 45 makes it difficult.”

In the first match, Team Socceroo downed Philippine Army-GTI, 2-0, to enhance its bid of staying in the first division.

Bedic came closest for Kaya in the first period, with only Wilson Munoz’s reaction save denying him the goal before Mbata rattled the bar.

Compounding Kaya’s woes was the red card shown to striker OJ Porteria, who was sent off in stoppage time, after an altercation with Stallion defender Matthew Nierras.

The match marked the return of Kaya skipper Aly Borromeo from a serious knee injury.

Second-half goals from Park Yi-young and Beleu-Ebi Timi Cleopas powered Team Socceroo which moved eight points clear of bottom team Pasargad.