Global 3, Stallion 1 quick thoughts

The best highlight isn't a goal. It starts at 1:10. Don't believe what you see? Yes, I can confirm that that is Angel Guirado backheeling a la Danny Welback towards goal. And that is Stallions GK Wilson Munoz acrobatically leaping over to palm the ball safe to the upright. It's an utterly amazing play. Football isn't just about goals, folks.

(Watch the video here.)

Stallions aren't playing their game. Stallion used to be the UFL's Barcelona, with a short passing game that stood out in the league. That Korean-Ilonggo varietal of the tiki-taka was present in last Saturday's friendly versus the Guam national team, when they won 3-1. But it was absent again Tuesday. Instead of short passes, the Stallions often resorted to a North-South game of speculative long balls. UFL Marketing man Coco Torre said Global's high press created gaps downfield that some Stallions, specifically Selu Lozano, wanted to exploit. But the strategy didn't work. Stallions have gone from top of the table to a distant fourth. Coach Pi has a lot of work to do in the off-season to prepare the team for the next competition.

Izo Elhabbib is a lethal, ruthless finisher. In both goals on either side of the half, Izo felt the heat from Stallion defenders but found enough wiggle room to blast the ball past Munoz. Not bad from a guy who is recovering from a broken arm. The Saudi-Sudanese striker is truly one of the top strikers in the league along with Phil Younghusband and Pasargad's volley king, Mohammad Ohadi. In contrast, Stallions squandered all but one chance.

Jerome Sylvain Etoundi brings flair to the goalie position. Subbing for Paolo Pascual, who is with the U22 team, Global's custodian had a solid night. The youngster showed very good judgment in plucking loose balls from the air and coming out of the box. He also unveiled some trickery in faking a clearance then passing short to a teammate. (See video) But his night wasn't perfect. Stallion's consolation goal came when Etoundi flapped at a ball outside his area and it eventually fell to Stallion captain Ruben Doctora, who slotted home.

Did Stallions get robbed of a penalty in the first half? Watch the play starting at 4:18. Did Angge Tressor Guiso clip Ruben Doctora in the penalty box? I think so. But the spot kick wasn't given.

It wasn't a great night for sportsmanship and fair play. Each team had an official sent off the bench for excessive complaining. Rafa Garcia was tossed for Global, and a Stallion official was thrown out after a MINERAL WATER BOTTLE CAP was heaved on to the field from the Stallion bench. Angel Guirado should have received a yellow for a second half play where, while on the ground, he throws his body at the legs of two Stallion defenders. (You have to see the video to understand it.) Carli de Murga can also be seen in my video running across the pitch after the third goal to celebrate theatrically in front a Stallion. One might surmise there was plenty of trash-talking or rough play that prompted that. What isn't in the video is a Stallion team official or fan (he was in a Stallion shirt), about five minutes after the game ends, on the track repeatedly bellowing "f__ck you" at the Global team as they did their cool-down on the field. He was ignored. And rightly so.

Sometimes, you should listen to your opponents. It was one of the weirder moments this season. In the second half, Global up 2-0, Stallion Baek Seong Kab, hurt on a previous play and about to be subbed, crumples to the ground in pain off contact from Guirado. I lost my focus while videoing so in my footage you can clearly see Global's Patrick Reichelt gesturing to the Stallion with the ball who is off cam. He's pointing at Baek, apparently telling the Stallion to kick the ball out so play can be stopped. The Stallion, whose jersey number I cannot read, ignores the friendly advice, is relieved of the ball, and moments later Izo scores. Bizarre.

Global is in a decent spot to win a league title. The club sits atop the Division 1 table with 38 points. Loyola, with a superior goal difference, can match them there with a win over Air Force. Global also plays the defending champs on Saturday. Of the three clubs with a shot at the title, Kaya, at 36 points, arguably has the toughest sched. They have to play Pasargad and then Stallion next Tuesday. The game following that, Meralco versus Kaya, might just be the de facto title match. At any rate, we are hurtling towards a thrilling conclusion to the league.

Amazing UFL stat of the week: Pachanga, which sealed promotion to the top tier by winning the Second Division, has an absurd goal difference of +114. (121 goals scored, 7 conceded.) What is equally amazing is that the next two teams in the standings, Diliman and Cebu Queen City, also have ridiculous goal difference stats of +58 and +54. Then guess what? Every other team has negative goal difference, ranging from Agila's -1 to Sunken Garden's -72! Parity will come to the UFL's second tier, but not anytime soon.

Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.