Needing just a solitary point to be crowned as the new United Football League champions, Global FC completed the task with a 1-1 draw against Loyola Meralco Sparks FC to secure the league title ahead of Kaya FC who won in the earlier match.

The draw allowed Global and Kaya, who earlier won 1-0 against Penson Stallions Gilligan's FC, in a tie with 42 points each, but puts the former above due to their superior goal difference (Global's 32 to Kaya's 13).

The title was Global's first top flight league title after ending last season in second place to Philippine Air Force Phoenix undefeated, and it's fourth overall title after being crowned the UFL second division champions in 2010 followed up with a UFL Cup and the PFF-Smart National Club Championships double last year.

The title also gave Global coach Edwin Cabalida his third consecutive league title, winning his first two with Air Force making him the first coach to win the league title thrice, and also the first coach to win back to back titles with two different clubs.

Loyola Meralco had an early chance after a cross from Kim Hyo Il found James Younghusband, who feeded it to Mark Hartmann, only for his shot to go wide of the goal.

Global countered the Loyola Meralco early attack in the 13th minute as the UFL's Golden Ball awardee Carli de Murga found an open Alex Obiang inside the penalty area, but his volley was just high.

Another chance for Global in the 15th minute found Obiang, Izo Elhabbib and Yu Hoshide stringing passes with Hoshide's cross finding Elhabbib only to sail it wide.

UFL Golden Boot winner Phil Younghusband almost made it 1-0 in the 20th minute for Loyola Meralco after his chip shot from a through ball hit the side netting.

Global goalkeeper Jerome Etoundi made denied several chances from Loyola Meralco in the 32nd and 34th minute to keep the scores at 0-0.

Loyola Meralco should have been up 1-0 in the 52nd minute after Davide Cortina found Hartmann unmarked for the goal. However the linesman ruled Hartmann to be offside, denying Loyola Meralco the lead.

Finally the deadlock was broken in the 65th minute after Izo Elhabbib scored from a header to give Global the lead, and one hand at the title.

However Loyola Meralco had plans to ruin Global's title parade as Byeong Yeol Jeong scored the equalizer in the 75th minute to the jubilation of Kaya FC, who were hoping for Loyola Meralco to win, to set up a thrilling finale between the two sides.

Global defender David Basa almost retook the lead for Global in the 82nd minute after Reichelt's free kick found him open inside for a diving header, but his attempt went straight to Loyola Meralco goalkeeper Ref Cuaresma.

Global had to end the match with ten men when substitute Badrelin Elhabbib was sent off in injury time following a foul on a Loyola Meralco player.

Loyola Meralco had several chances to score late in the match, but the heroics of Jerome Etoundi allowed Global to seal the league title.