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UFL: Global clubs Archers, Kaya and Nomads draw

Recaps of Thursday's Division 1 games in Emperador Stadium

Global 4, Green Archers United Globe 0.

Global are once again in hot pursuit of league-leading Stallion after crushing United with four goals in the last 45 minutes.

Izo Elhabbib, Jeffrey Christiaens, Denis Wolf, and Carlie De Murga struck to give the defending champs a deserving win that gets them to 31 points, two behind Stallion.

GAU are stuck at eight points and eigth place, still in danger of relegation.

Global did have most of the chances but Archers had their share of opportunities with their counterattacking game but could not make any of their attempts pay off.

Global coach Brian Reid started Ben Starosta at centerback and both Angeles twins in midfield. The Archers didn't have Tating Pasilan in the starting lineup because of a bruised thigh, but he did come on as a sub.

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GAU goalie Patrick Deyto was in fine form keeping a clean sheet for most of the first half, until Elhabbib picked up a ball that somehow threaded through several Archers defenders and blasted it past the keeper just before the halftime whistle.

In the 59th substitute Christiaens hit the target with a long-range curler that may have taken a slight deflection off Shag Shapay Johnson, making the score 2-0.

Another second-half sub, Wolf, made it 3-0 in the 71st, exploiting some tentative defending to beat Deyto.

De Murga was foiled by Deyto on numerous occasions throughout the game, but in the 90th minute he followed up a rebound to finally get on the scoresheet with a close-range shot.

We had some scary moments when we couldn't score but in the end it all came together” said Global boss Dan Palami afterwards.

We should have watched them when they put in their fresh legs” said GAU team manager Monchu Garcia. “Our subs came on a bit late.”

OTHER NOTES: Christiaens, Wolf, Jason De Jong and Misagh Bahadoran all came on as substitutes for Global. The Azkals have been working themselves back to fitness from a rash of injuries.... Palami revealed that Starosta and new goalie Moussa Sagono will be the two foreigners on the AFC President's Cup roster that will play in Cebu next week. Sagono is an Ivorian, and his spot on the roster means that Ed Sacapano may not start at all for the league champs. Palami also revealed that Juani Guirado will suit up for Global as a centerback beside De Murga.... United substitute Arvin Jay Soliman injured his back late in the game and was rushed to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Since he was able to sit up on the stretcher before he was taken to an SUV to go to the hospital, it is hoped that the knock is muscular in nature and therefore not too serious.... Global right back Jerry Barbaso sported an afro haircut that brought back memories of Carlos Valderrama.

Kaya 1, Nomads 1.

Kaya has drawn its third game in a row against a team below them in the standings.

Nate Burkey's first-half goal was canceled out by Fidelis Nnabuife's second-half strike.

Kaya missed the services of OJ Porteria, who was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. Coach David Perkovic inserted Toshi Hosoe in the starting eleven.

In the ninth minute Burkey headed past Nomads keeper Friso Klok off an inch-perfect center from Logan McDaniel.

Sean Iliff spurned two subsequent chances that could have made it 2-0 for Kaya.

Three minutes into the second half Nnabuife pounced on a rebound off a shot from Steve Borill and drove the ball past Kaya netminder Saba Sadeghi Garmaroudi to level matters.

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Just after the hour mark Iliff shot wide after receiving a great pass from Chris Greatwich, and three minutes later Klok did well to smother Jonah Romero's attempt.

Perkovic brought in Romero, Eric Dagroh, Antonio Ugarte, Janrick Soriano, and Carlo Liay as Kaya pressed for a winner that never came.

Their best chance came fifteen minutes before time when Daniel Zeleny headed off the post.

We had a bit more attacking verve today and the players played with smiles on their faces, which helped” said Nomads assistant Alasdair Thomson, who called the shots while John Joffre is away in Scotland.

The atmosphere was more somber with Kaya, with Anton Del Rosario telling me “we're in a funk, Bob.”

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The usually amicable Perkovic was in no mood to speak to Yahoo Sports, instead replying with “not today” when asked for an interview.

After stunning Global, Kaya has now drawn Pachanga-Diliman 1-1, tied with GAU 3-3, and then have drawn Nomads for the second time this year. Kaya is currently in solo fourth but eleven points adrift of third-place Loyola.

OTHER NOTES: Nomads marketing head (and former goalie) Jeff Blake gave Del Rosario some good-natured needling just before the second half began. Del Rosario was near the sideline within earshot of Blake, who told him “you've never scored against us before and you never will.” Blake will coach the USA team in the mini-World Cup in Nomads this weekend and is hoping to get the services of Del Rosario if Kaya allows him to play.... Nomads shuffled the deck a bit, bringing Bafio Magassa , usually a defender, into the central midfield and dropping Phil Connolly back into central defense.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.