Loyola Meralco Sparks blank PSG, share lead

MANILA, Philippines - Loyola Meralco Sparks overpowered PSG FC, 3-0, to jump into a three-way tie at the helm with defending league champion Global FC and reigning Cup titlist Stallion FC in the First Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City.

Fil-Brits Mark Hartmann and Phil Younghusband spearheaded the Sparks’ relatively easy win over the PSG booters and carrying the team back on top alongside Global and Stallion with 12 match points on four straight wins.

Global, which topped the League last year and wound up runner-up to Stallion in the Cup also last season, remains No. 1 though with a 13 goal differential against Loyola’s 12 and Stallion’s eight.

It was Hartmann’s third goal of the season to match teammate Alfredo Gonzales’ output while Younghusband, who emerged with the most goals scored a season back, hiked his total to two.

Hartmann opened up the scoring with a 17th minute blast and Korean striker Jan Jo Won made it a comfortable 2-0 lead by coming through in the 46th minute.

And then Younghusband, easily the most popular football player in the country today having led the Phl Azkals team to new heights, came through with a 55th minute rocket to take the fight out of PSG FC.

PSG FC fell deeper down the standings as it remained winless in four starts.

Green Archers United-Globe finally cracked the win column as it downed Air Force FC, 4-1, with former Airman and Azkals skipper Chieffy Caligdong leading the way by coming through with his first goal of the season.

Caligdong’s moment came on the 25th minute that gave the Archers a 2-0 lead after Jesus Joaquin’s Melliza’s rocket three minutes earlier.