Meralco Sparks rout Socceroos

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning league champion Air Force-Phoenix and Loyola Meralco Sparks and Army launched their respective campaigns in emphatic fashions while Kaya rallied from a goal down twice to turn back Diliman in the United Football League Cup at the Rizal Memorial Stadium over the weekend.

The Sparks routed newcomer Team Socceroos, 15-1, in a Group B match with Azkals’ top striker Phil Younghusband scoring seven goals and Mark Hartmann booting in five to cap their romp before a sizeable crowd.

Italian midfielder Davide Cortina, Matthew Hartmann and Jake Morallo also scored a goal each for the Sparks.

National team striker Nate Burkey, meanwhile, powered Kaya to a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Diliman Victory Liner in a match aired live by AKTV on IBC13.

Burkey delivered a hattrick, capping it with a side hit in the 65th minute. But the victory proved costly for Kaya, which lost skipper and Azkal mainstay Aly Borromeo late in the first half due to knee injury.

Borromeo will be out for the remainder of the competition after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Ian Araneta also struck with a hattrick as Air Force beat Laos, 4-1, to gain top spot in Group E where Navy also came away with a 9-0 rout of Manila All-Japan.

In other games, Global FC bounced back from an opening-day loss, beating Queen City Cebu, 3-0, at the Alabang Country Club, while Pachanga blanked Iloili-based Stallion, 2-0.