Global blanks PSG, Loyola Meralco grounds Air Force

MANILA, Philippines -- Global FC overcame a flat start as it came through with a pair of second half goals to turn back PSG FC, 2-0, and catapult itself back to the top in the First Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City Tuesday night.

Less than a week after blowing a two-goal advantage in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat, Global appeared sluggish the whole of the first half and the early part of the second before Sudanese striker Izzo El Habib, back after serving a one-game suspension, shattered the deadlock with a 67th minute goal.

Koray Gunduzoglu didn't leave anything to chance as he a blasted away with an 87th minute rocket to help the Global booters hold on to the win, their eighth against a draw and a loss, that sent them leaping from second to first with 25 match points, a point ahead of idle former leader Stallion with 24.

PSG remained stranded at No. 6 alongside Nomads FC with 11 points apiece on three triumphs and two deadlocks against five defeats.

Loyola Meralco Sparks likewise boosted its title stock after it overpowered a listless Army FC, 10-1, with Fil-Brits Phil Younghusband and Mark Hartmann unleashing four goals apiece.

Hartmann opened the scoring on the third minute but Luisito Brillantes responded with a 27th minute goal to knot it at one goal apiece.

It was the Armymen's last show of force as Younghusband and Hartmann conspired in a spectacular nine-goal binge that zapped the last fight out of the Armymen in hammering out in one of the most lopsided wins this season.

Hartmann's other goals came on the 76th, 78th and 92nd while Younghusband, who helped the Phl Azkals team top an AFC Challenge Cup leg staged in Manila early this month, came through on the 41st, 61st, 71st and 88th.

Other goal-scorers from the Sparks were Korean Jang Joo Wong on the 53rd and Hartmann's brother Matthew on the 73rd.

Army fell to its eighth defeat against a win and a standoff.