Younghusband powers Sparks past PSG XI

MANILA, Philippines - Phil Younghusband came through with a brace as he steered Loyola Meralco Sparks to a pulsating 4-2 victory over an upset-conscious PSG FC side to move to solo second in the First Division of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City Thursday night.

Youghusband, who helped power the Phl Azkal to the Asian Cup in Maldives next year, knocked in a brilliant goal on the 47th minute to break a one-all count, then scored on the 80th to clinch the victory for the Sparks.

Fil-Brit Matthew Hartmann provided the third goal on the 60th.

Loyola thus climbed one rung higher with 32 match points on 10 wins and two draws against a loss, dropping idle Global FC to No. 3 with 31 points on 10 triumphs and a deadlock against a setback.

Global FC is in Cebu as the country’s representative in the prestigious President’s Cup.

Korean Jeong Byeong Yeol broke the ice for Loyola on the 13th minute but PSG’s Emmanuel Mbata tied it eight minutes later with his own rocket.

But Younghusband took over and sparked a second half surge by the Sparks for the three-goal cushion that the PSG booters failed to match.

Younousse Yaogo actually cut it to just a two-goal deficit on the second minute of injury time but PSG, which remained at No. 7 alongside Green Archers United-Globe with 11 points, simply ran out of time.

Green Archers United-Globe scored three late goals as it pulled off a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Air Force FC to join PSG at No. 7 on three victories and two standoffs against eight defeats.

Azkals skipper Chieffy Caligdong, formerly of Air Force, hit a goal on the 31st to give the Archers the early advantage but Ian Araneta, another Azkals veteran, struck with a double three minutes later then scored again on the 59th to give the Airmen a 2-1 edge.

But the Archers scored three goals in a 10-minute stretch with Arnie Pasinabo Jr. sparking the binge on the 81st, followed by Agbayomi Gabriel Olowoyeye on the 84th before Jesus Joaquin Melliza sealed the victory in the first minute of extra time.

Air Force remained second-to-last with six points, just two points ahead of Army, which has a measly four-point output.