Davao Aguilas FC-UMak and One Taguig FC figured in a heated, highly-emotional 1-1 stalemate in the PFL’s Match of the Week last Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
In a match that saw 14 bookings that resulted in two red cards and another straight red card, the two title contenders shared the spoils as Yusuke Unoki’s penalty cancelled out Yannick Tuason’s header in the first half.
The draw meant Davao pulled level with Stallion Laguna and Kaya FC Iloilo at 16 points. But the Aguilas have an inferior goal difference, although they have played one less game than Stallion.
One Taguig picked up another point to increase its tally to 12 from seven matches.
It ends a stretch of tough matches for the expansion side as they faced Kaya FC Iloilo, Stallion Laguna and Dynamic Herb Cebu in the past three weeks. One Taguig picked up only three points from the four matches.
Davao has kept a clean sheet in its first five matches, but that streak ended when Tuason headed home Stephan Schrock’s cross in the 32nd minute.
One Taguig was reduced to 10 men when Tsukasa Himomura was sent off for a straight red after a studs up challenge on Davao captain Daisuke Sato in the 72nd minute.
Davao equalized four minutes later as Unoki converted from the spot following a foul on Joshua Dutosme.
Davao could not capitalize on the advantage the rest of the way. Instead, there was one more plot twist to the duel after
Sato tackled Patrick Grogg near the Taguig bench, triggering a scuffle in the dying minutes of the match.
Sato picked up his second yellow card and was sent off. OJ Clarino was also sent off after getting his second yellow card due to a foul against Taguig substitute Misagh Bahadoran.