Phil uncorks brace as Loyola Meralco posts 4-1 win over Pachanga

MANILA, Philippines – Phil Younghusband unleashed a brace as Loyola Meralco Sparks smothered Pachanga Diliman FC, 4-1, to move up to second in the First Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City Tuesday night.

Younghusband, a member of the Phl Azkals team, unloaded his double in a three-minute span starting on the 51st in catapulting the Sparks from third to second with 26 match points on eighth wins and two draws against a defeat.

Loyola also moved a point behind idle Stallion FC, which currently leads the way with 27 points on nine wins against a loss while Global FC fell from No. 2 to No. 3 with 25 points on eight triumphs and a deadlock against a setback.

Other goal scorers for the Sparks were Korean Jeong Byeong Yeol on the 14th and another Fil-Brit Mark Hartmann on the 64th.

Pachanga Diliman's only goal in the match was provided for by Mario Javier Clarino on the 79th when it was already buried deep and remained stranded at No. 6 with 16 points on five wins and a standoff against five losses.

Green Archers United-Globe nearly blew an early 2-1 lead before relying on a clutch goal by Agbayomi Gabriel Olowoyeye in injury time to salvage a 3-3 draw with a heavily favored Kaya side.

Chris Greatwich blasted away with a pair of goals on the 69th and 89th to turn a one-goal deficit to a 3-2 Kaya lead and a chance to wrap things up with a solid enough defense in injury time.

But Olowoyeye came through huge with that brilliant goal, helping seal the Archers the draw to improve to eight points on two wins and the same number of standoffs against seven defeats.

Instead of moving closer to the top three – Stallion, Loyola and Global – Kaya was stalled at distant No. 4 with 17 points. It was the LBC-bankrolled side's fifth draw against four wins and two defeats.